Born: Port Alberni, British Columbia
Place of Birth: August 26, 1957
Major Notes:
Rick Hansen as a youth enjoyed sports and, especially, fishing.
While coming home from a fishing trip, the truck in which he was driving in had an accident and Hansen
was left a paraplegic.
Hansen was only 15 years old when this unfortunate accident occurred.
After facing and accepting his circumstances, Hansen resumed his education and graduated from high school.
He continued with university studies and was the first physically handicapped student to graduate in Phsical Education
at the University of British Columbia.
Hansen thought it important that handicapped people have goals but not goals beyond their reach.
In 1985, inspired by what Terry Fox had accomplished, he left from Vancouver to begin his World in Motion tour to raise funds
for spinal cord research.
In the spring of 1987, Hansen completed his the Tour; he had visited 34 countries on four continents.
The tour raised over ten million dollars that, hopefully, would be used to eventually improve the lives of handicapped people around the world.
As a public speaker, Hansen is much in demand as his presentations are inspiring.
He continues to be active in sports and serves in various capacities with fund-raising and health care organizations.
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