Hunter Gandee, 14, walks 40 miles carrying brother to raise awareness for cerebral palsy

TEMPERANCE, Mich. -- A Michigan teenager has just finished a heroic journey of brotherly love.

Hunter Gandee, 14, walked 40 miles this weekend to raise awareness for cerebral palsy, with his little brother on his back. The duo called it the Cerebral Palsy Swagger.

Braden, 7, was born with cerebral palsy, so his big brother, Hunter, decided to raise awareness about it in this unique way.

The boys left shortly after 8 a.m. Saturday from the parking lot of Bedford Junior High School in Temperance and arrived at their destination Sunday, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Hunter took every step with his 45-pound brother strapped to his back, as a long line of supporters cheered them on.

Hunter said finding motivation was easy: "All the people that came to support us, and all the help that they have given us, and also all the kids out there with CP who are having trouble with every day of their life."

The trek's goal was to raise awareness for the muscle disorder that afflicts Braden and to grab the attention of the next generation of leaders, doctors, engineers and entrepreneurs and show them the face of cerebral palsy and the need for new ideas in mobility aides and medical procedures.

"We've gotten contacted by the lead singer of Megadeth, and he's supporting us and donating. We've gotten contacted by the Detroit Tigers, and they're on board and supporting us. Whole bunches of different people," Hunter said.

The family is not asking for donations, but for those interested, they are being directed to the University of Michigan Cerebral Palsy Research Program.

The boys' mom says she is really proud of Hunter, for what he set out to do and accomplished for his younger brother.

Braden, meanwhile, always had faith that Hunter would get them to Ann Arbor.

"My brother is awesome," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.