Agenda Package - City of Vernon

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Rick Hansen
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25 years ago Rick Hansen had a dream - to make the world more accessible and inclusive and to
find a cure for spinal cord injury. lnspired by a deep-seated belief that anything is possible, Rick's
.big dream'took shape in the form of the Man ln Motion World Tour (MIMWT). For 26 months he and
his team wheeled over 40,OOO km through 34 countrres, raising awareness of the potential of people
with disabilities. The completion of this epic Tour was a testament to willpower, physical prowess and
the ability to lead a seemingly impossible campaign. lt was the beginning of a life-long and selfless
journey to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Following the Tour, Rick established the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) to continue his quest for
an accessible and inclusive society and a cure forspinal cord injury (SCl)' Under Rick's leadership
the Foundation functions as a social innovator; finding collaborative solutions to challenges in the
community and the resources necessary to implement those solutions. RHF has seen tremendous
success having leveraged the original $26M raised during the Tour to over $245M to date.
Twenty-five years of work has resulted in many accomplishments. Rick has become a catalyst
for unprecedented change in society's attitudes, bringing leadership and relentless focus to
improving the quality of life of people with spinal cord injuries and to buildìng an accessible world.
Extraordinary progress has been made in the last 25 years in the treatment, care and services for
people with SCI in Canada. While Rick continues to pursue his dream, he also looks to the future to
find new ways to make a difference in the world.
The Journey Continues
This year marks the beginning of the 25ih Anniversary of the MIMWT, and provides an unprecedented
opportunity to engage new and re-engage past audiences with the story of Rick Hansen globally. lt
will mark the turning point, where we move from one man in motion to many in motion - inspiring
people globally to dream, to take action, to continue to change the world and to make a difference.
To commemorate the 25th AnniveÍsary, a number of national and international programs and activities
will take place:
o lnternational Engagements and Events - Will take place from December 2010 to June 201i with
visits to lsrael, Jordan, Australia, China and the United States'
. lnternational Difference Makers Awards - A unique and distinguished awards program recognizing
individuals from around the world whose work has made a significant impact in accessibility,
researchers who have advanced discoveries related to spinal cord injury, and those who have put
service above self to make an extraordinary difference in the lives of others.
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