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 famous Canadian athlete, activist, and helper for people with disabilities. When Rick was 15, he was in a pickup truck after a fishing trip. The truck rolled over, and Rick was badly hurt. He broke his back and became paralyzed, meaning he could not move his legs.
Rick Hansen is best known for his amazing Man In Motion World Tour. He traveled around the world in his wheelchair. He wanted to show everyone what people with disabilities can do. He also raised money to help remove barriers for them. In 2006, he was added to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. He also helped carry the Olympic torch for the 1988 Winter Olympics and 2010 Winter Olympics. A TV special in 2023 looked back at his journey 50 years after his injury.
Contents
Early Life and Challenges
Rick Hansen was born in Port Alberni, British Columbia, in 1957. He grew up in Williams Lake, British Columbia. As a child, Rick loved sports like volleyball, baseball, and basketball. He also enjoyed fishing trips with his dad and grandpa.
On June 27, 1973, when Rick was 15, he was in a serious accident. He was riding in the back of a pickup truck when it crashed. Rick was thrown from the truck. He broke his back and had a spinal injury. This injury meant he could no longer use his legs.
After the accident, Rick worked hard on his recovery. He finished high school and then went to the University of British Columbia in 1976. He was the first student with a physical disability to earn a degree in physical education from that university. Rick became a champion in wheelchair volleyball and wheelchair basketball. In 1977, he even asked his good friend, Terry Fox, to join his wheelchair basketball team.
Rick became a world-class wheelchair marathon runner and a Paralympic athlete. He won six medals at the Paralympics: three gold, two silver, and one bronze. He also won 19 international wheelchair marathons. This included three world championships. Rick also coached high school basketball and volleyball.
Man in Motion World Tour
In 1980, another Canadian athlete named 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 a long way before his cancer returned. Terry's journey inspired many Canadians. It showed them that people with disabilities have amazing abilities.
Rick Hansen was also inspired by Terry. He decided to use his own athletic skills to make a difference. He planned the Man In Motion World Tour. His goal was to show the world the potential of people with disabilities. He also wanted to inspire a more accessible world for everyone.
Rick started his tour on March 21, 1985, in Vancouver. At first, not many people noticed. But soon, he gained international attention. He traveled for 26 months, covering 40,075 kilometers. He went through 34 countries on four continents: North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia. One amazing moment was wheeling up the Great Wall of China. He also wheeled up a mountain in the Swiss Alps.
Every day, Rick wheeled for 12 to 14 hours. He covered about 85 kilometers daily. On May 22, 1987, he returned to Vancouver. Fifty thousand cheering people welcomed him at BC Place Stadium. Rick and his team raised $26 million. This money helped remove barriers for people with disabilities. The tour also changed how people viewed those with disabilities.
In 2017, Rick donated one of his gloves from the tour to the Canadian Museum of History. It is now on display. In 2020, he donated his entire Man In Motion World Tour Collection to the museum. This collection includes 1,700 items and thousands of videos and photos. The Rick Hansen Gallery in the BC Sports Hall of Fame also shows some items from his tour.
The famous song "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" was inspired by Rick's tour. It was written by David Foster and John Parr. The song became a number one hit in the United States in 1985.
After the Tour: Helping Others
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.
Rick Hansen Foundation
The Rick Hansen Foundation began in 1988. It was created to continue Rick's work from the Man In Motion World Tour. For over 35 years, the Foundation has worked to create a world without barriers. Its vision is for people with disabilities to live their lives to the fullest. The Foundation helps remove physical and attitude barriers. It also works to improve the lives of people with 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 trains people. It also rates buildings to see how accessible they are for everyone.
Every year, Canadians celebrate National AccessAbility Week (NAAW). This week started in 1988, inspired by Rick's tour. It celebrates Canadians with disabilities. It also raises awareness about the need for accessibility in all places. In 2011 and 2012, the Foundation also held a cross-Canada relay. It followed the same path as Rick's original tour.
Spinal Cord Injury Research
Rick Hansen has been a big part of spinal cord injury research. He helped raise $48 million for the International Collaboration of Repair Discoveries (ICORD). This is a research center focused on spinal cord injuries. ICORD also has the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry. This allows doctors to share important information about treatments.
ICORD is located in the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre. This center brings together research and care for spinal cord injuries.
Other Ways Rick Helps
Rick Hansen also supports protecting Fraser River White sturgeon and Pacific Salmon. He has led groups that work to restore these fish populations in British Columbia. He continues to help these conservation efforts.
Awards and Honours
Rick Hansen has received many awards for his work. Some of them include:
- Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (2006)
- Canada's Walk of Fame (2007)
- Lou Marsh Trophy (1982) - an award for Canada's top athlete.
- Order of British Columbia (1990)
- Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Commemorative Medal (2002)
- Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)
- He was named "Outstanding Young Person of the World" in 1983.
- Several public schools have been named after Rick Hansen:
- Rick Hansen Secondary School, Abbotsford, British Columbia
- Rick Hansen Secondary School, Mississauga, Ontario
- Rick Hansen Elementary School, London, Ontario
- Rick Hansen Public School, Aurora, Ontario
Order of Canada
Rick Hansen was given the highest honor in Canada, the Order of Canada, on June 29, 1987. This award recognized his amazing Man In Motion World Tour. He wheeled around the world to show the potential of people with disabilities. He also raised millions of dollars for spinal cord research. His journey inspired people everywhere to reach their own potential.
Other Recognitions
In 1986, a township in Ontario changed its name to the Township of Hansen in his honor.
Books by or about Rick Hansen
In 2017, Rick Hansen worked with Jake MacDonald on a book called Rick Hansen's Man In Motion World Tour. This book celebrated 30 years since his famous tour. He also wrote his own story, Rick Hansen: Man in Motion, with Jim Taylor. Another book he co-authored is Going the Distance: 7 steps to personal change. Rick Hansen has also inspired several children's books, including Boy in Motion, Roll On, Tale of a Great White Fish: A Sturgeon Story, and The Boy Who Loved to Move.
Personal 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 now grandparents.
Images for kids
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Hansen in 2008
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