Fall 2006

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20 Years Later

Rick Hansen Continues to Inspire a New Generation

Kendra Oosthoek

Where were you in the summer of 1986? Like many Canadians, you may remember that was when Rick Hansen and his team returned to Canada after more than a year of wheeling around the world to complete the final leg of the Man In Motion World Tour. The journey from Cape Spear, Newfoundland to Vancouver, British Columbia took nine months, and in the end an entire nation stood up to cheer on a man who made us believe in the possibility of a fully accessible and inclusive society, and a cure for spinal cord injury.

The Man In Motion World Tour became a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of teamwork, and Rick’s courage and determination opened hearts and minds to the potential that lies in us all. Nowhere was this impact more clearly felt than with youth. Throughout the Tour, thousands of young people sent Rick letters and artwork that described how he had inspired them to reach for their dreams, make a difference in someone else’s life, and in many cases, come to terms with their own disabilities.

Rick’s remarkable ability to engage and motivate youth stems in part from his own life-altering experience at the age of 15. Returning from a fishing trip, Rick was involved in a car crash that resulted in a spinal cord injury that paralyzed him from the waist down. Forced to redefine a new life for himself, Rick never hesitated to challenge society’s perceptions about what is possible for anyone with big dreams and the passion to see them through.

Rick was the first student with a physical disability to earn a degree in Physical Education from the University of British Columbia. He went on to become a world-class athlete, winning 19 international wheelchair marathons, including three world championships, and competed for Canada in the 1984 Olympic Games.

Today, Rick is still a Man In Motion. As President and CEO of the Rick Hansen Foundation, Rick continues to devote his energy to improving the quality of life of people with spinal cord injury, as well as encouraging and supporting youth. By creating specialized school programs, participating in community initiatives and speaking to young people across Canada, Rick and his team at the Foundation work to foster a sense of social responsibility, offer tools to develop life skills, and help young people strive to be the best they can be.

Rick Hansen has taught me not to focus on things I can’t do, but on the things that I can. The phrase ‘anything is possible when you believe’ has new meaning to me.
Tyler Shears, grade 12

At the centre of this activity is the Rick Hansen School Program. The Program was developed in response to parents and teachers who were exposed to Rick’s story and wanted to be able to share it with a new generation of school-aged youth.

“We felt kids would get so much out of hearing Rick’s story,” says School Program Coordinator, Nathalie Earley. “It illustrates courage, determination, team work, and the value of reaching for your dreams—and these are life lessons that are as relevant today as they were 20 years ago.”

Key components of the School Program include an awards initiative that recognizes social responsibility, as well as a series of teacher resources that tell Rick’s story, including lesson plans, age appropriate books, and online learning tools.

To date, over 200 schools have participated in the Program across the country, and some schools have been inspired to hold a Rick Hansen event during the school year. These events help to focus youth on making a difference by building awareness and raising funds for projects to improve accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities in their school or community.

I think Rick Hansen is not only an icon, he is a true hero. I think that he has touched us all. He showed me that anything is possible if you follow your dream and keep at it; there is no way you can lose.
Jordan Miller, grade 10

“It’s really amazing to see the difference these kids are making,” says Earley. “Across Canada, they have supported projects such as building accessible playgrounds, supporting wheelchair sport and recreation programs, and providing special equipment to help their peers reintegrate back into school and community following a spinal cord injury. Young people want to play a bigger role in making our communities better, and the School Program provides a structure to do that.”

May 22, 2007 marks the 20th anniversary of the end of the Man In Motion World Tour and provides an ideal opportunity to reconnect with Rick’s story and the values he embodies. Schools across Canada can get involved at any time by:

Planning Rick Hansen themed activities using resource materials available from the Rick Hansen Foundation.

Hosting a wheelchair challenge for students to gain first-hand experience and understanding of what it’s like to be in a wheelchair.

Organizing a Rick Hansen event to raise awareness and funds for spinal cord injury research and quality of life programs.

The Rick Hansen Foundation can provide a toolkit and resources to help get schools started, and they invite schools across Canada to help celebrate “20 years of dreams in motion.”

Let’s help youth understand what their strengths are and what makes them unique among billions of people. Let’s help them acquire the attitude that helps them succeed by using their individual strengths in positive, constructive ways. Let’s show them how to live side by side with their fellow human beings despite their differences. Let’s show them how to reach their full potential and encourage them to “never give up on their dreams.
Rick Hansen

For more information about the Rick Hansen Youth Program, please visit the Rick Hansen Foundation website: www.rickhansen.com

Or contact:
Nathalie Earley, Program Coordinator
604-709-6313
nearley@rickhansen.com