Media Advisory - Rick Hansen Relay enters Lower Mainland; Hansen and Relay Participants to wheel Thermal Drive

Minister Moore to attend Thermal event May 18; Global Research Conference occurs May 15-17

VANCOUVER, May 10, 2012 /CNW/ - Twenty-five years to the date of Rick Hansen's Man In Motion World Tour entering the lower mainland for the final stretch of Rick Hansen's round-the-globe trek, the Rick Hansen 25^th Anniversary Relay will be entering the final stage of its 273 day journey. Of particular note, on May 18 the Relay will be traveling up Coquitlam's Thermal Drive, the two kilometre vertical hill that posed the most physical challenge of Hansen's Tour. Hansen will be joined by Relay participants - students from six local schools - as well as wheelchair endurance athletes.

As the Rick Hansen 25^th Anniversary Relay made its way across the country, the 12,000 kilometre route that retraces Rick's original Tour - which started on August 24, 2011 in Cape Spear, NL - has been completed for the last nine months by 7,000 Canadians who have made a difference in the lives of others.

PLEASE NOTE: Details for Richmond and Vancouver (May 20 to 22) will be distributed in a separate advisory. Notable events and opportunities, along with Rick Hansen's participation, from Agassiz to White Rock (May 13 to 19) are provided below:

Sunday, May 13, 2012 (Day #264: Relay traveling Agassiz to Chilliwack)

• End of Day Celebration - 5:00pm PT [Location: Heritage Park 44140 Luckakuck Way, Chilliwack, BC]
• The Relay will end the day with an event at Heritage Park. Attending: Rick Hansen, final Medal-Bearer Betty Colk (Special Olympian; worked at the Community Police office for 18 years)
• Relay arrives at 5:00pm
• NOTE TO EDITORS: Rick Hansen will be available for interviews following the formal event

Monday, May 14, 2012 (Day#265: Relay traveling Chilliwack to Abbotsford)

• Wally Buono - MB#108 (5:07pm. Starting along Blueridge Drive from 100m before Thornhill Drive)

Tuesday, May 15, 2012 (Non-Relay Day: Vancouver event)

• Interdependence 2012: Global SCI Conference - 8:45am (PT) [Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Ballroom C (1055 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC)]
• This global conference will showcase Canadian and international researchers, clinical professionals, policy makers and industry leaders
• Speaking at the opening of the conference: 
• Bill Barrable (Chief Executive Officer, the Rick Hansen Institute)
• Michael Fehlings, MD PhD FRCSC FACS (Spinal Program Head, Toronto Western Hospital)
• Charles Tator, PhD, MD (Senior Scientist in the Toronto Western Research Institute and Director of the Canadian Paraplegic Association Spinal Cord Injury Research Laboratory)
• NOTE TO EDITORS: Rick Hansen will be attending the Welcome Reception from 6:00 to 8:00pm

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 (Day #267: Relay traveling Abbotsford to Maple Ridge)

• Start of Relay - 9:45am (PT) [Location: Rick Hansen Secondary School gym (31150 Blueridge Drive, Abbotsford, BC)]
• The Relay will begin its day at the Rick Hansen Secondary School.
• Rick Hansen will wheel out of the school with Relay participant Shyna Kanda (Grade 12 student; has volunteered for the Foundation and participated in the RHF Youth Workshop last June) 
• NOTE TO EDITORS: Rick Hansen will be available for interviews prior to the start of the formal event, and following his participation in the Relay, after 11:00am (PT)
• Trevor Linden participates at 11:00am. Traveling on Downes Road to 30507 Downes Road)
• Rick Hansen 25^th Anniversary Gala [Location: Vancouver Convention Centre West, Ballroom A/B (1055 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC)]
• Media are invited to attend between 5:00-5:30pm should they require interviews with Rick Hansen. Following a private reception from 5:30-6:00pm, media would be permitted to attend from 6:00pm to 7:00pm, prior to the dinner/auction portion of the evening, for photos and/or b-roll
• NOTE TO EDITORS: Media wishing to attend, please contact John Gibson (details below) in advance, for entry

Thursday, May 17, 2012 (Day #268: Relay traveling Maple Ridge to Coquitlam)

• Interdependence 2012 Global SCI Conference - 3:45pm (PT) [Location: Vancouver Convention Centre East Convention Level, Ballroom C (1055 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC)]
• Speaking at the Closing Plenary (3:45pm) and Closing Ceremony (5:15pm):
• Rick Hansen, CC, OBC
• Michael Fehlings, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACS (Spinal Program Head, Toronto Western Hospital)
• Marcel Dvorak, MD, FRCSC (Head of the Academic Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, University of British Columbia)
• Armin Curt, MD, FRCPC (Medical Director of the Paraplegic Centre, Balgrist University Hospital)
• Robert G. Grossman, MD (Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery and Co-Director of the Methodist Neurological Institute)

Friday, May 18, 2012 (Day #269: Relay traveling Coquitlam to Burnaby)

• Thermal Drive Relay Segment - 10:30am (PT) [Location: starting at Mohawk Ave and Thermal Drive, Coquitlam, BC]
• Rick Hansen will wheel with Relay participants up Thermal Drive Hill, the steepest grade of Rick's original Tour. An event will be held at 11:00am at the summit of the climb, at Thermal Dr and Seymour Dr
• Attending: Rick Hansen, the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages; Richard Lee, MLA Burnaby North; Mayor of Coquitlam, Richard Stewart; Mayor of Port Moody, Mike Clay
• Relay participants
• MB269-032: 10:39am. Traveling on Moray Street from Pinda Drive to Mohawk Ave
• MB269-033: 10:45am. Traveling on Thermal Dr from Man In Motion Plaque to 1000 Thermal Dr
• MB269-034: 10:50am. Traveling on Thermal Drive from 1000 Thermal Dr to 972 Thermal Dr
• MB269-035: 10:55am. Traveling on Thermal Drive from 972 Thermal Dr to 936 Thermal Dr
• MB269-036: 11:00am. Traveling on Thermal Drive from 936 Thermal Dr to Seymour Drive
• Relay continues at 11:30am PT
• NOTE TO EDITORS: The anticipated ascent will take approximately 30 min. Thermal Drive is 1.6km. Due to the steep incline, Rick and participants will not be stopping once they begin, until reaching the top. Rick Hansen and others will be available for interview following the formal event at the summit (corner of Seymour Drive and Thermal Drive) at 11:30am PT
• PARKING: RCMP officers will be closing down Moray St/Thermal Drive from St. Johns St to Como Lake Ave from 10:00am to 12:00pm PT. Media wishing to park at the summit must have vehicles in place before 10am. Please do not park on Thermal Drive. Media are encouraged to park at the base, in the lot at the corner of Moray St and St. Johns Street. Post-event, members of the RHF Communications team will transport media back down to their vehicles.
• End of Day Celebration - 5:00pm (PT) [ Location: Burnaby Village Museum (6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby, BC)]
• The Relay will end the day with an event at Burnaby Village Museum. Attending: Rick Hansen, MLA Kathy Corrigan; final Medal-Bearer Monica Gartner (advises the City of Burnaby on accessibility; a member of the Canadian Wheelchair Dance Academy)
• Event begins and Relay arrives at 5:00pm
• NOTE TO EDITORS: Rick Hansen will be available for interviews following the formal event

Saturday, May 19, 2012 (Day #270: Relay traveling Burnaby to White Rock)

• End of Day Celebration - 5:00pm (PT) [Location: White Rock Community Centre Square (15154 Russell Avenue, White Rock, BC)]
• The Relay will end the day with an event in White Rock. Attending: Rick Hansen; MP Russ Hiebert; final Medal-Bearer Jayme Hall (suffered a stroke at age 12; is now a mentor for young girls in the Girl Guides)
• Public event begins at 5:00pm; Relay arrives at 7:00pm
• NOTE TO EDITORS: Rick Hansen will be available for interviews following the formal event

Media Materials:

The following items will be available in the Media Centre on www.RickHansenRelay.com:  Relay route map, full list of communities and dates, list of Medal-Bearers, Media Highlight Sheets with Medal-Bearer stories (one per day, uploaded at least 48 hours in advance), and high resolution images/video. A media FTP site is also available at: ftp.rickhansen.com Username: media Password: RHmed1a1994

About the Rick Hansen Foundation:

In 1987, following the Man In Motion World Tour (MIMWT), Rick established the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) to continue his quest for an accessible and inclusive society and a cure for spinal cord injury (SCI). Under Rick's leadership, RHF functions as a social innovator - finding collaborative solutions to challenges in the community and the resources necessary to implement those solutions. RHF has been successful in leveraging the original $26M raised during the MIMWT to more than $245M in support of people, programs and research in pursuit of a healthier and more inclusive world. As part of the 25^th Anniversary campaign, the Rick Hansen Foundation has launched a national public fundraising campaign to support ongoing programs and initiatives.  For ways to get involved, or to make a donation, please visit www.RickHansen.com.

About the Rick Hansen 25^th Anniversary Relay:

Launched on August 24, 2011 in Cape Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Rick Hansen 25^th Anniversary Relay is retracing 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.

Rick Hansen Foundation
John Gibson
1-604-644-0811
[email protected] 

Rick Hansen Foundation
Lisa Clement
1-604-351-4279
[email protected]

On the Road Relay Media Relations
Toll-Free Hotline: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @RHRelayMedia

Rick Hansen Institute
Interdependence 2012 Conference
Dan Maceluch
1-778-991-7532
[email protected]