Young Woman With Muscular Dystrophy Is Taking Special Outdoor 'Hike': Report

SMYRNA, GA — An IT developer from the Smyrna/Vinings area is taking his sister for a hike on a 79-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail - on his back.

Spencer Wyckoff, 28, is lugging his sister Carden along the trail to raise awareness and funds to fight muscular dystrophy, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Carden Wyckoff, 23, has a progressive form of the disease that affects the muscles of the face, shoulder blades and upper arms, and she uses an electric scooter to get around.

Several other volunteers are helping out on the hike, including the Wyckoffs' sister, Virginia. To carry Carden, who weighs 115 pounds, they're using a customized harness that was originally made for parents to carry their children while hiking.

To document their adventure, the Wyckoffs are keeping a blog on a website labeled "Piggyback Adventures." The site describes their mission and includes a map of the section of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia that they're covering.

The sponsors of the trip include Vestigo, an Athens-based group that promotes outdoor activities, as well as OFD Foods and Diamond Brand Outdoors.

Image: A view from the Appalachian Trail on top of Tray Mountain in Georgia (By Mmacbeth via Wikimedia Commons).