Rick Hansen facts for kids
Hansen in 2014
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Birth name | Richard Marvin Hansen | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Canadian | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | August 26, 1957 Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada |
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| Occupation | Disability activist, former paralympian | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse(s) |
Amanda Reid
(m. 1987) |
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| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  Canada |
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| Sport | Track and Field | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Richard Marvin Hansen (born August 26, 1957) is a Canadian athlete, activist, and helper for people with disabilities. When Rick was 15, he was in a pickup truck after a fishing trip. The driver lost control, and the truck rolled over. Rick was thrown out and broke his back. This injury made him unable to move his legs.
Rick Hansen is most famous for his "Man In Motion World Tour." He traveled around the world in his wheelchair. He wanted to show what people with disabilities can do. He also raised money to help remove barriers for them. He was added to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. He also carried the Olympic torch for the 1988 Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics. A TV special about him aired in December 2023. It marked 50 years since his injury.
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Rick Hansen's Early Life
Rick Hansen was born in Port Alberni, British Columbia in 1957. He grew up in Williams Lake, British Columbia. As a child, he was very active. He played many sports like volleyball, baseball, and basketball. He also loved fishing with his father and grandfather.
On June 27, 1973, Rick was coming home from a fishing trip. He was riding in the back of a pickup truck with a friend. The truck driver lost control, and the vehicle rolled over. Rick was thrown from the truck. He suffered a spinal injury that caused him to be paralyzed from the waist down.
After his injury, Rick worked hard on his recovery. He finished high school. In 1976, he went to the University of British Columbia. He was the first student with a physical disability to earn a degree in physical education from that university in 1986. Rick became a champion in wheelchair volleyball and wheelchair basketball. In 1977, he even asked Terry Fox to join his wheelchair basketball team. They became good friends.
Rick became a world-class wheelchair marathoner and Paralympic athlete. He won six medals in wheelchair racing. These included three gold, two silver, and one bronze. He also won 19 international wheelchair marathons. He even coached high school basketball and volleyball. Rick was very close to his family, especially his brother, father, and grandfather.
The Man in Motion World Tour
In 1980, another Canadian athlete, Terry Fox, started his "Marathon of Hope." Terry had lost a leg to cancer. He planned to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He ran from St. John's, Newfoundland to Thunder Bay, Ontario. But his cancer returned, and he had to stop. Terry's journey showed Canadians that people with disabilities have great abilities. This inspired Rick Hansen. He decided to use his athletic skills to make a difference too.
Rick wanted to show the potential of people with disabilities. He also wanted to inspire a more accessible world. So, on March 21, 1985, Rick began his "Man In Motion World Tour." He started at Oakridge Mall in Vancouver. The tour lasted 26 months. He traveled 40,075 kilometers. Each day, he wheeled for 12 to 14 hours, covering about 85 km.
He traveled through 34 countries on four continents. These were North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia. A special moment was when he wheeled up the Great Wall of China. Rick's highest point was in the Swiss Alps, at 1700 meters (5,577 feet). The tour gained worldwide attention. On May 22, 1987, he arrived back at BC Place Stadium. About 50,000 people were there to welcome him.
Rick and his team raised $26 million to help remove barriers for people with disabilities. The tour also helped change how people viewed those with disabilities. In May 2017, Rick donated one of his gloves from the tour to the Canadian Museum of History. It is now on display. In May 2020, the Canadian Museum of History received the Rick Hansen Man In Motion World Tour Collection. This collection includes 1,700 items and many videos, photos, and documents from his tour.
The song "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" was inspired by Rick Hansen's tour. It was written by David Foster and John Parr. John Parr performed the song for the movie St. Elmo's Fire. It became a number one hit in the United States in September 1985.
After the Tour: Making a Difference
Rick Hansen started the Rick Hansen Foundation. This foundation has raised over $394 million. Its goal is to raise awareness, change attitudes, and improve life for people with disabilities.
The Rick Hansen Foundation
The Rick Hansen Foundation was created in 1988. It was a way to continue the work started by the Man In Motion World Tour. For over 35 years, the Foundation has worked to improve the lives of people with disabilities. It aims to create a world where people with disabilities can reach their full potential. The Foundation works to remove both physical and attitude barriers. It also supports research for spinal cord injuries.
The Foundation has two main programs. The Rick Hansen Foundation School Program teaches young people from Kindergarten to Grade 12. It helps them become champions for accessibility and inclusion. The Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) program offers training courses. It also rates and certifies buildings based on how accessible they are for people with different abilities.
Every year, starting on the last Sunday in May, Canadians celebrate National AccessAbility Week. This week was inspired by Rick Hansen's tour. It celebrates Canadians with disabilities. It also raises awareness about the need for accessibility in communities and workplaces. In 2011 and 2012, the Foundation also had a cross-Canada relay. It followed the same route as Rick's original Man In Motion Tour.
Helping Spinal Cord Injury Research
Rick Hansen was a key person in creating the International Collaboration of Repair Discoveries (ICORD). This research center focuses on spinal cord injuries. It has raised $48 million for its work. ICORD also manages the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry. This allows doctors and experts across Canada to share important information. They can learn what treatments work best for different spinal cord injuries.
ICORD is located inside the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre. This center also has the Brenda and David McLean Integrated Spine Clinic. This clinic provides care for people with spinal cord injuries. The building brings together research and care for spinal cord injuries.
Other Important Work
Rick Hansen also supports protecting Fraser River White sturgeon and Pacific Salmon. He has led groups like the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society. He also led the Pacific Salmon Endowment Fund Society. These groups help protect sturgeon and salmon in British Columbia. Rick used money from a book called Tale of the Great White Fish to help the Sturgeon Society. He continues to support these conservation efforts.
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Awards and Special Recognitions
Rick Hansen has received many awards and honors for his work. Some of these include:
- Canada's Walk of Fame (2007)
- Induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (2006)
- Terry Fox Hall of Fame (1993)
- Order of British Columbia (1990)
- Freedom of the City Award, City of Vancouver (1987)
- Newsmaker of the Year, Canadian Press (1986)
- "Outstanding Athlete of the Year," by Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (1980)
- Lou Marsh Trophy, a special award shared with Wayne Gretzky (1982)
He was also appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1987. This is one of Canada's highest honors. The award recognized his world tour and how he inspired people. It also noted how he raised millions for spinal cord research.
Several public schools have been named after Rick Hansen:
- Rick Hansen Secondary School in Abbotsford, British Columbia
- Rick Hansen Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario
- Rick Hansen Elementary School in London, Ontario
- Rick Hansen Public School in Aurora, Ontario
Books About Rick Hansen
In 2017, Rick Hansen worked with Jake MacDonald on a book. It was called Rick Hansen's Man In Motion World Tour. This book celebrated the 30th anniversary of his tour. He also co-wrote his autobiography, Rick Hansen: Man in Motion, with Jim Taylor in 1987. Another book he co-authored is Going the Distance: 7 steps to personal change. Rick Hansen's story has also inspired four children's books: Boy in Motion, Roll On, Tale of a Great White Fish: A Sturgeon Story, and The Boy Who Loved to Move.
Rick Hansen's Family Life
Rick Hansen met his wife, Amanda Reid, during his Man in Motion World Tour. She was his physiotherapist. They got married in 1987. They have three daughters and are also grandparents.
Images for kids
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Hansen in 2014
