Letter from Rick Hansen...
“Together, we can make this moment the beginning of the greatest movement for positive change in our history. If enough of us choose to change one small thing...together, we have the power to change anything.”
It was a huge, impossible dream – to circle the globe in a wheelchair – and it began with a single turn of a wheel.
It has been 25 years since my journey to make the world more accessible and inclusive and find a cure for spinal cord injury travelled around the globe as the Man in Motion World Tour (MIMWT). For 26 months my team and I wheeled more than 40,000 km through 34 countries, raising awareness of the potential of people with disabilities. The Tour raised $26M which has grown over the past 25 years to over $245M towards my dream.
Now, I’m excited to announce we’ll be commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the MIMWT with a national, nine-month relay commencing in August 2011. Recreating the Canadian portion of the MIMWT, approximately 7,000 relay participants, everyday Canadians that truly demonstrate that anyone can make a positive difference, will help us reach hundreds of communities from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Vancouver, BC sharing the message of courage and determination across the country.
While the relay will follow the path of my original tour, the mission is to create a new journey that raises awareness, engages communities and celebrates people who make a difference – leaving behind a more inclusive and accessible nation.
Joining the thousands of Relay Participants will be a small group of extraordinary individuals who exemplify the values of the 25th Anniversary Relay and will take part in a very unique capacity as members of the 25th Anniversary Relay Endurance Team. The Endurance Team members will have an incredible opportunity to travel with the Relay for a period of time and showcase their athleticism by moving the Relay efficiently through sections of the country.
I am very excited about the creation of the Endurance Program and the opportunity it presents for the selected athletes. I have been fortunate to meet so many gifted and dynamic individuals over the years and it’s an honour for me to share this event and create the opportunity to highlight so many individual accomplishments. The Endurance Team members will endure several long, physically challenging days on the Relay, but the experience will hopefully be a rewarding one that will forever inspire those they encounter along the way.
If you or someone you know has the passion, courage, athleticism and determination to have a special role in the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay, we would love to hear from you. Attached is a document that outlines the role of an Endurance Team member for your reference. Please contact Scott Jones at 604-644-5450 or sjones@rickhansen.com.
Together, we can inspire Many In Motion – and change the world one good turn at a time.
Thank you for your support.
Rick Hansen
President & CEO
The Rick Hansen Foundation
Find out more about the program here.
