A True Hero

St. Elmo’s Fire was an all right movie but for those of you who don’t know, the song ‘Man In Motion’ was written by David Foster as a tribute for a true hero – Rick Hansen.

 

Due to a car accident when he was 15, Hansen is paralyzed from the waist down. But that has not stopped this man from doing what many considered the impossible. From 1985 to 1987, Rick wheeled around the world – over 40,000 km through 34 countries. He raised over $26 million for spinal cord research. A truly remarkable man.

 

Not long after I was disabled by multiple sclerosis someone gave me a box of used books. One of the books was ‘Rick Hansen, Man in Motion’, the story of Rick’s incredible journey. It tells of the hardships and the joys he experienced. Once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. Not to sound corny but I laughed and I cried throughout the book. It is a story that shouldn’t be missed.

 

So touched was I by this book that I wrote to Rick Hansen in care of the ‘Rick Hansen Foundation’ at the University of British Columbia. I was really surprised when a short time later I received a letter back from him. It is framed and hanging on my wall of inspiration – a wall in my apartment with sayings, lyrics, mementos and such that give me internal strength.

 

Now whenever I hear the song ‘Man in Motion’, especially the lines “I can hear the music playing; I can see the banners fly”, I get emotional and remember when this true hero touched my life.