The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The community of Flin Flon will benefit from the funds raised last year at the 2nd annual Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion event, presented by Scotiabank, held in the community on June 13. Charlyn Sharp and Cathie Wintoneak worked with a team of local volunteers to organize the event to help make a difference in the lives of people with spinal cord injury (SCI). The community of Flin Flon raised over $3,000. Half of the net proceeds will be directed to priority needs identified to improve the quality of life of people with spinal cord injury. The other half is directed towards research. Thanks to the incredible efforts of the people of Flin Flon, the quality of life funds raised will be directed towards helping with the purchase of new Handi-Van to provide transportation for people with SCI and other disabilities. Across the country more than 35,000 people helped raise over $1.2 million for the 2nd Annual Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion events. A total of 208 events were held in communities throughout Canada. "We could not have done this without the incredible support from our local organizing committee, sponsors, and donations and pledges contributed from the people of Flin Flon. We launched this campaign one year ago and with the support of thousands of caring Canadians we've been able to double the dollars raised and triple the audience participation in our second year," said Rick Hansen, CEO and President of the Rick Hansen Man In Motion Foundation. "A spinal cord injury can happen to anyone, at any time but the effects can last a lifetime. When we participate in an event such as this, we contribute to a new possibility for every man, woman and child who is currently living with a spinal cord injury and for those who will be injured in the future. The outcome for them can be very different," Hansen said. Quality of life initiatives can make a huge impact in the life of a person with a spinal cord injury. The funds raised from Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion can help change lives by providing accessibility so a person with SCI can have access to areas within their home or within the community, funding transportation that enables people with SCI to lead independent lives, skill development that supports people with SCI to re-enter the work place, wheelchair purchases as well as support for sports and recreational programs. The funds directed towards research are helping accelerate major breakthroughs in SCI research by providing the tools to improve clinical treatments, develop leading edge assistive technologies and the development of a much needed SCI registry. Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion was launched in Canada in 2003, people of all ages and abilities are invited to wheel, bike, skate, run or walk along a designated course to help make a difference. The 3rd annual Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion is scheduled for Sunday, June 12, 2005. Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which its employees and customers live and work, both in Canada and abroad. Recognized as a leader among Canadian corporations for its charitable donations and philanthropic activities, in 2003 the Bank provided $30 million in sponsorships and donations to a variety of projects and initiatives, primarily in the areas of health care, education and social services. Scotiabank is on the World Wide Web at www.scotiabank.com. See 'Leader' P.# Con't from P.# The Rick Hansen Man In Motion Foundation is a registered charitable organization founded by Rick Hansen in 1987. Recognized as an international leader in the field of spinal cord injury (SCI), the Foundation is committed to bringing together diverse communities to accelerate improvements to the quality of life of people with SCI. Rick Hansen came to the world's attention with his legendary Man In Motion World Tour (1985-87) when he wheeled 40,000 km around the world to prove the unlimited potential of people with SCI and raised over $26 million for SCI. For more information visit our website at www.rickhansen.com or call 1-866-60-WHEEL (1-866-609-4335).
