Around the world in a wheelchair Bashny.Net

Canadian wheelchair athlete, activist and motivator, his courage inspired thousands of people around the world, for one reason or another find themselves in wheelchairs. In the mid-1980s, his tour of 'Man in Motion' was very discussed event - Rick then drove 40 000 kilometers; its aim was to draw public attention to the problems of people with spinal cord injuries, as well as raising money for research on these diseases.




Born Richard Marvin Hansen (Richard Marvin Hansen) in 1957 in Port Alberni in British Columbia (Port Alberni, British Columbia). He was a healthy childhood, I loved sports and fishing. His life changed in 1973 when 15-year-old Rick got into a car accident. After surgery, the lower half of his body was paralyzed.



Returning home after a six-month stay in the hospital, Rick began to get used to his new position and life in a wheelchair. He graduated from high school and enrolled at the University of British Columbia (University of British Columbia). Interestingly, the first of his to his wheelchair did not accept at the Faculty of Physical Education, which wished himself Rick, so he began to study art, but a year later he was one of the best in the university basketball team in wheelchairs, as well as no less brightly He distinguished himself in volleyball. So, a year later Hansen was allowed to go to the Faculty of Physical Education, and soon he became the first wheelchair student with a degree in physical education. However, Rick Hansen knew what he was doing. While still a student, he realized that the problems of people with disabilities a great many, and all of them remain outside the public interest, and therefore he will have to work in this direction himself. By the way, Rick was a good friend of Terry Fox (Terry Fox), the legendary Canadian, founder of Hope Marathon (Marathon of Hope). Together they played basketball together and thought about how to improve the situation of the people, by the will of fate seated in wheelchairs. By the way, after Terry has withdrawn, defeated by illness, Rick picked up his endeavors.

So, wondering how to make the world a better and fairer to those who are not lucky, March 21, 1985, Rick Hansen set out on his journey around the world called 'Man in Motion' (Man In Motion World Tour). It is a journey in a wheelchair was a real milestone in the history of the sport, because to Hansen did not do it no one ever. He rode in his carriage 40, 000 kilometers, visiting 34 countries. It was a long race in 26 months, a complex, sometimes incredibly difficult, but still possible - this is what proved Rick Hansen. He began and ended his trip to Vancouver (Vancouver), returning home May 22, 1987. On the streets of Vancouver when he was greeted by thousands of people, and during his race Rick was able to collect 26 million. Dollars that went into the research on diseases of the spinal cord, as well as the rehabilitation and sport for people with disabilities.



After his journey, Rick Hansen has continued its activities by creating a fund 'Rick Hansen Foundation', which today is a major charitable organization in Canada dedicated to the problems of people in wheelchairs and simply with disabilities. Hansen constantly sends the money to the study of diseases of the spinal cord, leaving no hope that one day doctors will learn to perform miracles and put on his feet any, even the most hopeless people.

In 2003, Rick was organized running 'Wheels In Motion', and it later became a separate fired project, which also continues to live today.

It was Rick Hansen inspired the Russian traveler and philanthropist Dmitry Shparo, who organized the 1992 mileage Vladivostok - Saint Petersburg in wheelchairs.

Today, Rick Hansen in Canada - a real hero. He was awarded the Order of Canada and Order of British Columbia, but also has many other awards, including a number of honorary doctorates from various universities.

In collaboration Hansen wrote a couple of books - 'Rick Hansen: Man in Motion' and 'Going the Distance: 7 steps to personal change'.

Because of privacy Rica I know that he is married to his former doctor, Amanda Reid (Amanda Reid) and they have three daughters. Family Lives in Richmond (Richmond, British Columbia).

Source: www.peoples.ru