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Rick Hansen : Man in Motion Legacy

© Michelle Struik

Eleven years ago, a disabled Canadian athlete took on a dream. His dream was to travel around the world to raise funds for Spinal Cord Injuries and to raise awareness for persons with disabilities. Rick Hansen lived that dream. Over a period of two years, two months and two days, he wheeled his wheelchair around 34 countries, 4 continents and travelled 40,072 kilometres. To Canadian's his name is a household name, to those of you in other countries you might not be as familiar with his name, but, I bet you've heard his "Man in Motion" theme song.

When Rick decided to follow his dream he inspired alot of fellow Canadians. They in turn helped him realize his dream. David Foster, a fellow Canadian. wrote the song "St Elmos Fire" for Rick and his "Man in Motion Tour".

Due to the commitment of Rick Hansen and the Canadians that supported him, numerous people in many countries found that they also had what it takes to pursue their dreams. The Man in Motion Tour elevated the disabled into the limelight and showed the world the potential that can come from this community in society.

As a result of Rick's Man in Motion Tour, money from around the world was donated and the end result is still being realized to this day. Originally the Man in Motion Tour generated a sum of $24 million dollars. Over the past decade that Fund has generated a total of $63.7 million dollars used to further spinal cord injury research, rehabilitation and wheelchair sport, and partnership endowments. Twenty-two million dollars to this day remain intact from the original Legacy.

Rick has shown to the many disabled people, Canadian or otherwise, that dreams are worth pursuing. That one person can make a difference! The Legacy of his Man in Motion Tour has improved the lives of thousands of people around the world.

While the Man in Motion Tour was in progress I remember vividly the news footage we here in Canada were fortunate to view. Images of him talking to fellow wheelchair users high on the Great Wall of China, or of bombing victims in Israel, and children running behind his chair in Australia.

Many people around the world believe that Canadian's are not proud of our country and our fellow Canadian's accomplishments. We tend to show our pride in a quiet manner, but when Rick returned home to Vancouver, the country stopped. Our boy was home!