DENISON, TX-A community comes together Thursday to help one Texoma teen achieve his dream of one day marching to the beat of his own drum with his high school band. Victoria Maranan tells us how friends and family are making that happen.
Denison High School sophomore, Josh Brown, always dreamed of marching with Denison High School's "Touch of Gold," but his wheelchair has kept him on the sidelines. Brown has been playing the drums since he was in sixth grade.

"I enjoy it as much as everybody else does. I mean, I contribute to the band and I'm just happy to know that I can play," he said.

Josh has been playing in Denison's "Touch of Gold" marching band since freshman year, but he's never marched with his band mates because he has muscular dystrophy and is confined to a wheelchair.

"It's been my dream to march on the field, playing snare drum," he said.

Denison High School percussion instructor, John Apodaca, plans to make that happen by launching "Help Josh Brown March 2012."

"I said 'we'll get you out on the football field. I'm gonna have you out marching around like everyone else.' And he said 'how are you gonna do that?' I said 'I'm gonna make a few phone calls,'" he said.

He hopes to raise $66,000 to build a wheelchair prototype, that will help Josh play his drum with both hands and still move around the field.

"I'm gonna find some people who are inspired. People who clearly have a lot of compassion in their hearts. People who are really courageous, courageous and not afraid to take on a challenge, maybe even a challenge that's unprecedented," he said.

Josh said he's surprised to see so many people show their support and their desire to one day, see him march with the drumline.

"It's overwhelming. I mean, I can't believe that this actually gone as far as it did. But I mean, it's not all about me. It's a beacon for people with disabilities, you know? That they can do things like this, it's definitely possible," he said.

UNT's engineering department will build the new wheelchair prototype. Apodaca hopes the chair will be ready in August, just in time for football season.

If you'd like to help, you can send or drop off donations at:

Red River Percussion Club
P.O. Box 285
Denison, TX

Denison High School Band Hall Office
1901 Mirick Ave.
Denison, TX
*speak with a band director

Paypal: www.redriverpercussionclub.org