Rick Hansen (1957-) is a Canadian paraplegic athlete and humanitarian most famous for his Man in Motion tour where he circumnavigated the globe in a wheelchair in the name of spinal cord research.
He was a young athlete when he was paralyzed at the age of 15 in an auto accident. Although initially deeply despondent, he soon learned to conquer his disability to become a world class champion wheelchair marathoner and Olympic athlete.
He was inspired to attempt his greatest feat by his friend, Terry Fox, who attempted an 8000 km marathon with an artificial leg in the name of raising funds for cancer research.
He began on March 21, 1985 from Vancouver. Although public attention was low at the beginning of his trek, he soon became a worldwide media sensation as he progressed on a 26 month long trek that would log over 40,000 km through 34 countries on 4 continents. He returned in triumph to cheering crowds of thousands on May 22, 1987 after raising $26 million was raised for spinal cord research. Furthermore, he was hailed as a national hero like Fox with such honours as being named Companion to the Order of Canada.
Since then, he has been ardent activist for spinal cord research and parapelygic sports as president and CEO of the Rick Hansen Man In Motion Foundation .
In 1986, a Private Member's Bill in the Ontario legislature renamed a remote township in Sudbury District, Ontario, previously named the Geographical Township of Stalin, in the athlete's honour as the Geographic Township of Hansen.
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