Rick
Hansen

Speaker Profile

Rick Hansen epitomises “determination”. In the summer of 1973, Rick was a free-spirited, athletic fifteen year old who had a life altering automobile crash that left him a paraplegic. Although he could no longer walk, Rick could dream and he became a world-class athlete, winning 19 international wheelchair marathons, including three world championships and competed for Canada in the 1984 Olympic Games.
In the spring of 1985, he embarked on a bigger dream and wheeled the circumference of the earth to raise awareness and funds for spinal cord injury. Two years and 40,000km later, Rick and his team returned to Vancouver, BC, having raised over $26M.

Today, as President and CEO of the Rick Hansen Man In Motion Foundation, Rick remains committed to improving the quality of life for people with a spinal cord injury. To date, Rick’s work has made an impact of millions on quality of life programs and spinal cord injury initiatives.

Rick and his team recently launched the Foundation’s first annual Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion, in communities across Canada. Presented by Scotiabank, Wheels In Motion brings communities together annually to raise awareness and funds to improve the quality of life of people with spinal cord injury and to support research ultimately leading to a cure. Mark your calendar for Sunday June 12th, 2005.

As an inspiring speaker, Rick is in demand by many organizations to share his remarkable story and to inspire others to make a difference. He spends time in schools, committed to being a positive role model to children, and has co-authored two books: Rick Hansen - Man In Motion and Going the Distance: Seven Steps to Personal Change. Among his many community commitments, Rick serves on a number of Boards and, still passionate about fishing and the environment, is currently Chair of the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society and the Pacific Salmon Endowment Fund Society.

Rick is married to Amanda and lives in Richmond, BC, with their three daughters. Besides fishing, he enjoys pilates, tennis, kayaking and sit skiing.

Travels from United States