What a difference 25 years can make!
It was a huge, impossible dream - to circle the globe in a wheelchair - and it began with a single turn of the wheel.
When my team and I set out upon the Man In Motion World Tour, we embarked on a global journey of hope. A hope that we could inspire the world and realize the dream of raising millions of dollars for spinal cord injury (SCI) research, making communities more accessible and inclusive and changing the way we look at the potential of people with disabilities. I hoped to inspire a generation to dream big, and to live with purpose.
This dream is closer to reality today, yet we still have a long road ahead. This is the focus that guides the Rick Hansen Foundation. The people, programs and partnerships that have been put in motion continue to move us closer to a cure for spinal cord injury, and a world that is accessible to everyone.
As we celebrate the anniversary of the Man In Motion World Tour and 25 years of progress, we enter a new phase of growth, discovery and engagement with great momentum and excitement. This is the time to reignite the enthusiasm we all saw in people and communities around the world.
From December 2010 to May 2012, the Rick Hansen Foundation will engage in a variety of activities worldwide to mark this anniversary. This journey will be measured not only by the number of kilometres we travel, but in how we are embraced around the world and across Canada, as we continue to strive to make positive differences in the lives of others.
The Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay
One of the key events commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Man In Motion World Tour is the Rick Hansen Relay which will be held over a nine month period, commencing on August 24, 2011.
Recreating the Canadian portion of the Man In Motion World Tour and visiting hundreds of communities from St. John's, Newfoundland to Vancouver, British Columbia, the Relay will feature thousands of Relay Medal-Bearers donning the 25th Anniversary Relay Medal, a powerful symbol of hope. While our route plans will respect the original Man In Motion World Tour's dates and communities, highlighting the progress made over the past 25 years, one of our goals will be to tell the story of everyday Canadian heroes who are making a difference in their communities, their country and the world
Join the Relay
Enter to win a spot in the Rick Hansen Relay.
I am inviting the nation to take up the cause, celebrate the progress that has been made and recognize and inspire a new generation of difference makers to never give up on their dreams and realize that with courage and determination, anything is possible.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen