Come Join us May 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Rick Hansen Man in Motion Tour by welcoming the cross Canada relay participants.
Joe Reichart, Lillian Allison Saunders, Walter Despot and Francis Peck are only a few of the local medal bearers already chosen to represent our community. On May 9, the relay will begin in Cawston and stop for lunch at Memorial Park before continuing onto Hedley. Join us along the route to cheer on the participants. Check out next weeks Review newspaper for the relay route and more names of the local medal bearers participating in the relay. Any donations can be made out to the Rick Hansen Foundation and presented at the event.
In hearing about the relay, Similkameen Senior Secondary student Katie Frasch authored her thoughts on perseverance and what it means to her.
Perseverance
By Katie Frasch
A determination in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. It’s a great word to describe Rick Hansen. One of Canada’s most monumental people.
Rick Hansen was only fifteen when he became a paraplegic. In 1985 he decided to wheelchair around the world while raising funds for spinal cord research on his Man in Motion World Tour. He also won national wheelchair and basketball championships. As well he competed in the 1980 and 1984 paralympics for various wheelchair racing events. His physical difficulties didn’t stop him from doing what some would have said as the impossible. He persevered like no other person. This year the Rick Hansen Foundation is doing a 25th anniversary Relay Event of the Man in Motion tour. The relay will be stopping in Keremeos on May 9.
Rick Hansen became a wonderful role model for everybody, especially those in wheelchairs. He truly has showed the meaning of perseverance to the world.
Many other role models have also persevered through various difficulties. For example, Bethany Hamilton and Terry Fox. But what about role models that haven’t had to endure losing limbs, becoming paraplegic or other disabilities? Have they endured and persevered as well? Yes, they have. People who haven’t had to live through physical difficulties have had to persevere as well. It just doesn’t show on the outside. We all persevere and endure, in different ways. I personally think that people who haven’t had to physically persevere through challenges have the job of looking after, standing up for and caring for those who have.
Everyone perseveres, whether they are physically handicapped or not. We all have difficulties and setbacks that we have to get through in our lives; that’s a fact of life. Perseverance isn’t always shown on the outside, but always on the inside. Some have to persevere a little more than others, (but )we all do. So why does it seem that so many role models have had to physically persevere? That’s because we look up to these role models as inspirational people because of what they’ve had to persevere and what they’ve achieved despite their difficulties. Everyone who achieves and succeeds has had to persevere.
Perseverance comes with success. The more you persevere the better and stronger of a person you become. And that always makes a great role model.