It’s been 25 years since the original man in motion rolled across Canada and 33 other countries and into the hearts of many. Rick Hansen – paraplegic since a car crash injured his spinal cord when he was 15 – took his wheelchair, his smile and his poignant message of inclusiveness, ultimate ability and stick-to-itiveness to the masses during his two-year landmark tour. That ended back in the spring of 1987.
To commemorate that astounding event that captured the attention of the world, an anniversary relay is being held with many of Hansen’s fellow Canadians picking up the gauntlet and running more than 12,000 kilometres through 600 communities in his place.
Amanda Magyar is one of the seven people representing the St. Albert leg of this long journey that began last summer in Cape Spear, Nfld. She is among the 7,000 medal bearers, people chosen by the relay’s committee as people who have made a difference in their communities. They must be strong representatives of positive change in five different areas including inclusivity, empowering youth, environmentalism, healthy living and medical progress.
Magyar was chosen because she has been an active volunteer with a local Girl Guide group, and also because of a campaign that she created in the fall of 2010. The three-month effort, called Birthday Bags for Kids in Need, sought donations of cake mixes, balloons and other supplies from the community.
Although the 18-year-old wasn’t born when Hansen first made his world tour, she says that she’s very proud to be able to keep spreading his messages.
“I really believe that he believes that you can follow your dreams no matter what. He was in this wheelchair and he did this thing across Canada. Everyone was like, ‘You can’t do this. You can’t do this.’ And he did it.”
“That’s pretty much what I stand for.”
The Rick Hansen Foundation has raised more than $250 million to improve inclusivity around the world and to help medical researchers working on recovery from spinal cord injuries.
The relay comes through St. Albert on Wednesday. A medal bearer will arrive via Mark Messier Trail just after 2 p.m., snaking through the city with stops at Paul Kane high school and St. Albert Place where a special ceremony will be held at 2:50 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend the 15-minute celebration.
Hansen himself won’t be in attendance in St. Albert but will be the special guest as he is introduced to the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton on Monday. Afterwards, he will wheel alongside various participants before speaking at an end-of-day celebration at the Butterdome at 3:30 p.m.
He will also present a public lecture to the faculty of rehabilitation medicine at the Edmonton Clinic Health Academy on the U of A campus at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
In a prepared statement, he indicated that young people like Magyar continue to give him hope.
“I continue to be blown away by the response of young Canadians and the youth from around the world. The participation of these young difference makers has been inspiring and the resonance they have to our journey is encouraging for the future.”
For more information, visit www.rickhansenrelay.com.
