Relay relives Rick Hansen’s Man in Motion tour
Richmond has been named one of 600 communities that will welcome the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay.
On Tuesday the Richmond-based Rick Hansen Foundation announced early details of the cross-Canada relay, which begins in Newfoundland-Labrador on Aug. 24 and ends in Vancouver on May 22, 2012.
“We are honoured to have Richmond a part of the 25th Anniversary Relay,” said Hansen in a news release. “I received so much encouragement and support when I wheeled through Richmond 25 years ago, it’s truly inspiring to encourage a new generation to pursue their dreams.”
The relay will retrace Hansen’s Canadian leg of the original Man in Motion world tour, visiting every province and territory and travelling 12,000 kilometres.
Hansen will make appearances at “a number” of cities along the route, but running the relay will be 7,000 participants across the country.
In 1985, Hansen embarked on his world tour, travelling 40,000 kilometres through 34 countries over two years. He raised over $26 million for spinal cord injury research.
All Canadians aged 12 and older can apply to participate in the relay through a contest expected to be launched this spring.
Hansen, who is a Richmond resident, participated in another cross-Canada relay last year: the Olympic Torch Relay. On Feb. 9, 2010, Hansen wheeled down Granville Avenue in Richmond and into Minoru Park, lighting the cauldron to cheers from thousands of people and marking the start of Olympic celebrations here.
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Man in Motion World Tour numbers
•March 21, 1985 to May 23, 1987
•34 countries
•40,075 kilometres
•792 days on road
•126 flat tires
•94 gloves
•$26 million raised
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