Launches contest to win Relay spot, announces Relay
medal, sponsors and first participant
Mississauga, ON - 25 years after his Man In
Motion World Tour, and in preparation for his 25th Anniversary
Relay which will re-create the Canadian-portion of his original
Tour, Rick Hansen is looking for help to cover the 12,000 kilometre
trek across Canada - 7,000 helpers to be exact. One man in motion
will be represented and celebrated by many in motion; as 7,000
participants from across Canada who have made their own difference
in the lives of others will walk, wheel or run in the Rick Hansen
Relay when it begins on August 24, 2011 in Cape Spear, Newfoundland
and Labrador and concludes on May 22, 2012 in Vancouver, British
Columbia.
To find and recognize these participants, the Rick Hansen
Foundation launched today an online public contest at
www.RickHansenRelay.com, inviting Canadians who have made a
difference to enter to win a spot to participate in the Relay as a
Medal-Bearer. To encapsulate the country's multi-faceted
population, contest criteria will be broad and is open to:
individuals who are creating a more accessible and inclusive world,
leading and encouraging others to live a healthy and active
lifestyle, or persons who are contributing to the protection and
sustainability of the environment.
With the Relay passing through over 600 communities across
Canada, the Rick Hansen Foundation is looking for Canadians from
across the nation to enter for their chance to take part in the
Relay in their community. The full map and list of communities that
the Relay will pass through is also available online. While Rick
will not be wheeling across the entire country as he did 25 years
ago, he will be present at a number of stops throughout the country
during the nine month Relay.
"Canadians across the country are being invited to join me in
the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Man In Motion World
Tour," said Rick Hansen, President and CEO of the Rick Hansen
Foundation. "The Relay will connect a nation of difference makers
who are outstanding examples of everyday heroes having an impact on
the lives of others through a vision of a healthy and inclusive
world. This is the start of a movement for 7,000 Canadians to help
inspire the nation and live by the credo that anything is
possible."
At an event to launch the online contest for the Relay, Rick
Hansen Secondary School in Mississauga hosted Rick in a gymnasium
of over 900 students. Also in attendance was the Honourable David
C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, who spoke prior to Rick's
entrance.
"I am honoured to take part in the launch for Canadians to enter
and take part in the Rick Hansen Relay, which marks the milestone
anniversary of Rick's Man In Motion World Tour," said the
Honourable David C. Onley. "For more than a quarter century Rick
has raised significant funding for and awareness of disability and
accessibility issues and his 25th Anniversary Relay will inspire a
new generation to make a difference in the lives of others, with
the hopes of creating an inclusive society for all."
Making the vision of celebrating everyday Canadian's
contributions to their communities a reality, the Rick Hansen
Foundation also announced the list of Relay and 25th Anniversary
sponsors to date. Presenting Partners include McDonald's and Nike,
with CTV as Official Broadcaster, and Air Canada, The Globe and
Mail, Honda, Pattison Outdoor Advertising, the Royal Canadian Mint,
and Scotiabank announcing their support as Official Suppliers.
While the first Medal-Bearer will kick the Relay off in Cape
Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador on August 24, 2011, the first
participant of the Relay to be named was announced at the event at
Rick Hansen Secondary School. Amna Ansari, a 17 year old grade
eleven student at the school, originally thought she was going to
demonstrate to her peers how to sign-up for the Relay via the
online contest. However, she was surprised to find out that Rick
Hansen himself announced she would run in the Relay when it makes
its way through Ontario in late 2011. Ansari is an accomplished
student who is actively involved in school mentor programs, plays,
and student committees. Outside of the classroom she is a nursing
co-op student at Credit Valley Hospital and has created programs
such as the adoption of Century Park in Ontario, and organized a
week to end violence campaign. Amna is a true difference maker for
the next generation, and someone whose work is creating positive
change for her community.
Continuing the Relay's mission to recognize everyday heroes
across the country, Presenting Partner McDonald's Canada invited
Dale Bartlett to participate in the Relay as a difference maker.
Bartlett is an owner-operator of six McDonald's restaurants in the
Greater Toronto Area, and an active contributor to McDonald's
Canada's philanthropic endeavours such as Ronald McDonald House
Charities. 25 years ago Bartlett was a McDonald's Restaurant
manager at the Eaton Centre shopping complex in downtown Toronto.
Upon being inspired by Rick's story, he personally organized a
fundraising coin-box campaign within the Eaton Centre's retailers,
and raised $30,000 in one month, culminating in presenting a cheque
to Rick when he made his way through Toronto in November of
1986.
"Leading a fundraising effort as a manager for our Eaton Centre
restaurant during the original Man In Motion Tour and meeting Rick
25 years ago had a profound impact on me," said Bartlett. "Working
at McDonald's taught me the importance of giving back to the
community and being in contact with Rick showed me the power each
individual has to make a difference in the lives of others."
As the Relay will connect the country from coast to coast, the
symbol that links each participant to the next will be the Rick
Hansen Medal, designed and produced by the Royal Canadian Mint.
From the same Ottawa facility responsible for medals of the
Canadian Forces, the RCMP and the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, the
Mint has designed and handcrafted sterling silver Rick Hansen Relay
Medals. Every Medal-Bearer will receive their own medal to
permanently remember the way in which they personally added to the
momentum of the 25th Anniversary Relay.
"The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to join the celebration of
the 25th Anniversary of the Man In Motion World Tour by
contributing the talent and ingenuity of its employees to the
creation of the Rick Hansen Medal ," said James B. Love, Chair of
the Board of Directors of the Royal Canadian Mint. "Rick Hansen has
inspired millions in the 25 years since his historic journey and
the Mint is honoured to have had the unique opportunity to
immortalize his legacy by crafting the unforgettable Rick Hansen
Medal."
The public contest by which Canadians can enter to win their
spot on the Rick Hansen Relay opens today, with regional closing
dates. The contest closes on: June 1, 2011 for Newfoundland and
Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and
Quebec; August 3, 2011 for Ontario; October 26, 2011 for Alberta,
Manitoba and Saskatchewan; and December 28, 2011 for British
Columbia.
Media Materials:
The following items will be available on the Media Centre Page of
www.RickHansen.com: Relay route map, full list of communities and
dates, difference maker biographies, high resolution images of the
Rick Hansen Medal and a Medal Backgrounder, and high resolution
images and b-roll video of Rick's original Man In Motion World
Tour.
About the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary
Relay:
Beginning on August 24, 2011 in Cape Spear, Newfoundland and
Labrador, the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay will retrace the
Canadian segment of the original Man In Motion World Tour,
traveling 12,000 kilometres, through 600 communities and concluding
in Vancouver, British Columbia on May 22, 2012. This time, one will
inspire many in motion; engaging 7,000 participants from across
Canada who have made their own difference in the lives of others.
Please visit www.RickHansenRelay.com for more information.
About the Rick Hansen Foundation:
The Rick Hansen Foundation is a registered charitable organization
that provides leadership to accelerate progress toward a more
healthy, sustainable and inclusive world. The Foundation achieves
its goals by connecting the people and resources that make
innovation possible. Please visit www.RickHansen.com for more
information.
About Our Sponsors:
A project of the scope and scale of the 25th Anniversary and Rick
Hansen Relay could not be possible without the tremendous support
from our partners. Our sponsor's involvement - be it financial,
operational or through the provision of services - is crucial to
our goal of celebrating everyday Canadians' contributions to their
communities and inspiring the next generation of difference
makers.
Presenting Partners: McDonald's, Nike | Official Broadcaster:
CTV | Official Suppliers: Air Canada, The Globe and Mail, Honda,
Pattison Outdoor Advertising, the Royal Canadian Mint,
Scotiabank.
For More Information:
Rick Hansen Foundation
John Gibson (in Ontario on April 5)
Mobile: 1-604-644-0811
Email: jgibson@rickhansen.com
Rick Hansen Foundation
Suzanne Reeves (in Ontario on April 5)
Mobile: 1-778-918-0275
Email: sreeves@rickhansen.com
McDonald's Canada
Media Relations Line 1-877-786-3342
Royal Canadian Mint
Alex Reeves
Mobile: 613-884-6370
Email: reeves@mint.ca
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