"What are your memories of Rick Hansen's original Man In Motion Tour 25 years ago?". This was the question that was presented to a group of medal bearers in the green room this morning before setting out on their respected legs of Rick's 25th Anniversary Relay that we've been TELLING YOU about for a few months now. The room was filled with 15-or-so excited folks geared up in yellow Nike windbreakers and blue track pants and included Canadian Olympic rowing champion Silken Laumann, music journo Terry David Mulligan, and a host of others who have made a difference in their community in one way or another - myself being one of them. Some, like TDM, remember getting phone calls from Rick and helping raise awareness of the tour while also opening doors for him with connections at Expo 86. Others, like the 17 year-old swimming champion (whose name eludes me) weren't even born yet.
My memory of the original tour is one of my most fond - and crystal clear - from my childhood. I was ten years old and the entire elementary school that I attended in my hometown of Vernon BC was bussed out to the Rec Centre so that we could cheer Rick on as he wheeled through our tiny little community. As he rolled past me he looked me square in the eyes and, with that road-weathered and gloved hand of his, delivered the most awesome high five I've ever received.
I try not to flaunt my personal achievements here on the blog but today I'm going to risk walking the line of bragging because I've been given license to and because, hell, it's time to admit to you and to myself that I'm damned proud of what I've done with V.I.A.. I ran in the relay as a representative of the army of folks who have helped bring this positivity machine to where it is today: it's an award-winning, impactful and well-respected resource for people looking for all of the things that make them proud of their city and its residents. In that green room this morning the group of us were told that we're difference makers, that we've contributed positively to our community, and that Rick launched this anniversary relay with 7,000 people like us running across Canada in order to showcase the power of many to bring about positive change. As we huddled before our run, Silken said that the best thing that Rick has taught her as a personal friend is that everybody is making a difference in one way or another, and that if we take the time to listen, that everybody has an awesome story with which to inspire us by.
I then went out and I ran my stretch down Broadway, with the medallion around my neck and Rick at my side, and I smiled from ear to ear the entire way. I thought back to that time when I was ten years old, and how incredible it was that I was actually "in motion" now. To say that it was a proud moment would be an incredible understatement. And when I got to the finale at BC Place where these kids (pictured below) were waiting there for all of the medal bearers, wanting to give us all a high five, just like I did to Rick so many years ago, I practically fell down and wept. But instead of weeping, of course I walked through this group of kids lined up and gave each and every one of them a very Awesome high five!
And as Rick so eloquently put it in his speech that followed his arrival, after he was introduced by Mayor Gregor and Premiere Christy Clark: the relay may be over, but the journey has only just begun. We here at V.I.A. are going to help keep the momentum going in order to realize the goal of a more accessible and inclusive world for everyone. Are you?
