Hansen’s 25th Anniversary Relay inspires a new generation

News — 10 January 2012

Beginning at 1:20 p.m. on Jan. 12 from McDonald’s Restaurant, 21 local medal bearers will relay the Rick Hansen Medal down Duke St. and Dryden’s downtown finishing at an End Of Day Celebraton at The Centre. Image submitted

By Dryden Observer Staff

Part of a 12,000 kilometre journey, recreating Rick Hansen’s inspiring effort to bring awareness of spinal cord injuries in his Man In Motion 25 years ago will come to Dryden later this week.

Beginning in Cape Spear, Newfoundland, in late August the 25th Anniversary Rick Hansen Relay is making its way across Canada in nine months, engaging 7,000 participants who will walk, run, bike or wheel their section of the relay, passing the Rick Hansen Medal from one to the next.

Wabigoon

The Relay will approach from the east, expected to reach Wabigoon at approximately 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12.

Wabigoon local Loretta Parenteau was chosen to wear the Rick Hansen medal and represent the community of Wabigoon in support of this campaign along with two others chosen from a contest online.

Parenteau says she is honoured to act on behalf of Wabigoon

“I have been a community member for 58 years and I cannot imagine growing up or raising my family and the many foster children I have fostered anywhere else but here,” she said. “Living in Wabigoon has opened my eyes to many different experiences. Wabigoon is a family community, and through thick and thin we are there for one another.”

Community members are invited to attend a luncheon at the Wabigoon Community Hall from 11:30am – 12:30pm.

Dryden

The event unfolds over two days in Dryden, arriving in the community just short of 1 p.m. At approximately 1:20 p.m. local medal-bearers will begin relaying the Rick Hansen medal from McDonalds, over the Duke St. overpass to Dryden’s downtown where it will complete a circuit on its way to The Centre via Van Horne Ave. and Arthur St. (see map).

Twenty-one local medal bearers including Lucinda Hoffstrom, Cindy Coles, Tianna Markowski and Mark Wherrett will carry it along the way.

Wherrett, a national wheelchair curling competitor and accessibility advocate, has been chosen to carry the medal for the final leg of the day arriving at an end of Day celebration,

The festivities, featuring performances by local musicians, and a message of hope from the Rick Hansen Foundation will begin at 1:30 p.m. and expect the arrival of the final medal bearer at 2:00 pm.

On Friday, the Relay’s journey west begins at Dryden High School at 11:30 a.m. arriving at St. Joseph’s School (11:40 a.m.), Open Roads School (12 p.m.) and New Prospect School at 12:30 p.m.

Notable medal bearers include student leader Cassandra Jolicoeur, young fundraiser Jessica Darling and Lillian Berg teacher Shannon Elliott.

The day’s final leg, run by Elliott, who has been recognized for her innovative anti-cursing program at Lillian Berg School, will arrive at the school at approximately 3:30 p.m.

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About Author

chrismarchand

Chris Marchand is a native of Dryden, Ontario. He served his first newspaper internship at The Dryden Observer in 1998 while attending journalism studies at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops B.C. He's worked desks as both reporter and editor at the Fernie Free Press as well as filled the role of sports editor at the Cranbrook Daily Townsman. Marchand was named editor of the Dryden Observer in Aug. 2009.