General | August 2, 2017 | 17:22

Team Michigan's Hunter Gandee is facing some of the top wrestlers in the nation during the AAU Junior Olympics this week at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.

He is hoping these experiences will propel him to making the Michigan high school state finals this upcoming school year.

But this tournament is neither the toughest or most rewarding thing he's done in his life, although he finds this experience both difficult and rewarding.

His younger brother Braden has cerebral palsy, and when Braden was nine years old, Hunter carried him from Temperance Bedford High School -- where Hunter is a senior -- 111 miles through the back roads of Michigan to the steps of the Capitol in Lansing to garner awareness for children with disabilities.

Call it a labor of love or a deep love for his younger brother who struggles with everyday chores, like getting up from the dinner table and walking.

Hunter put Braden down for the last half mile, where Braden walked with the aid of a walker to the steps of the Capitol and was greeted by top politicians, including Lt. Gov. Brian Calley.

It was the third and longest walk that Hunter made with his brother.

In 2014, he began a community awareness program for cerebral palsy called "Cerebral Palsy Swagger," and carried his brother from Bedford 40 miles to the University of Michigan wrestling center through both the heat and rain.

A crowd applauded when Hunter lifted Braden to touch Michigan's "Go Blue" banner that football players touch when they rush onto the field at Michigan Stadium.

The following year, they traveled 57 miles in three days to U-M's pediatric rehabilitation center.

"They (the walks) have been nuts," Hunter said. "They are some of the hardest things I've done, but they are cool because we get lots of publicity. And it is awesome because it brings awareness to our goal."

Hunter simply wanted to bring awareness to kids with disabilities, and help eliminate bullying.

Through public support, $185,000 was raised, which was used to build a handicap accessible playground at Temperance Bedford Middle School.

Braden turns 11 on Friday, and has grown to be 80 pounds.

Hunter did not make the walk this past spring because his brother is too heavy now. Still, he encourages people to be aware of the disease and to help however they can.

Hunter wants to study engineering at his dream school, the University of Michigan, and create equipment that makes life easier for children like Braden.

"Hunter has always had a good relationship with his brother, and (has) show(n) compassion and has a mature way of going about things," his dad Sam Gandee said. "He's always wanted to go about making his brother's life better. The more (that) people know about kids like Braden, the less chance of bullying and maybe people might want to go into fields that bring new technology."

Hunter fell one match short of reaching the state wrestling tournament as a junior, and plans on making the state tourney next spring as a senior.

"He took that pretty hard, but he uses that as motivation," Sam said. "That is why he is (at) an event like this. He is really pushing himself, and I believe he will get there. I don't think he will just get there. I think he will place."