Media advisory - 9 Months, 12,000km, 7,000 participants: Rick Hansen Relay concludes in Richmond & Vancouver

Events: Richmond Oval, PNE Amphitheatre; Relay Finale 12pm, May 22, BC Place, Terry Fox Plaza

VANCOUVER, May 17, 2012 /CNW/ - After nine months, over 12,000km and through 600 communities, the Rick Hansen Relay will conclude its final three days in Richmond and Vancouver, culminating on May 22, 2012 - twenty-five years to the date that Rick Hansen completed his original Man In Motion World Tour.

On May 20, the Relay will conclude its day in Richmond with a free public event at the Richmond Oval's Legacy Plaza, where Rick Hansen will wheel with the final four participants (Patrick Chan, John Furlong, Mayor Malcolm Brodie and the City's selected participant).

May 21, the Relay will conclude its day in Vancouver at the PNE amphitheatre, where Rick Hansen will wheel with Relay participant Sarah McLachlan, and the City's selected Medal-Bearer, into the grounds for a free public event.

May 22, Rick Hansen will wheel with all 65 participants as the Relay makes stops at City Hall and the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre before concluding its nine-month journey at BC Place's Terry Fox Plaza at noon PT. That night, the final event and concert, Rick Hansen Celebration 25, takes place at the Pacific Coliseum at 7:30pm PT.

Full details of the final three days are outlined below:

Sunday, May 20, 2012 (Day #271: Relay traveling White Rock to Richmond)

• Relay Stop - 11:45am PT [Location: McDonald's Restaurant, 4000-11668 Steveston Hwy, Richmond]
• Patrick Chan (2011/2012 Figure Skating World Champion) and Rick Hansen to conduct a short presentation with a Relay participant, before the Relay continues-on through Richmond
• NOTE TO EDITORS: Rick Hansen and Patrick Chan will be available for interviews following the formal event
• Wheelchair Basketball Final Championship Game - 4:00pm PT [Location: Richmond Olympic Oval, 6111 River Road, Richmond, BC]
• Rick Hansen to speak at the closing ceremony and present tournament medals to participants
• NOTE TO EDITORS: Following the presentation, Rick Hansen will begin wheeling with the final Relay participants of the day
• Rick Hansen to wheel with:
• Patrick Chan - MB#127 (4:48pm. Starting along Westminster Hwy from Sheraton Hotel to Carver's Steakhouse)
• John Furlong - MB#128 (4:51pm. Starting along Westminster Hwy from Carver's Steakhouse)
• Mayor Malcolm Brodie - MB#129 (4:54pm. Starting along Gilbert Rd from Elmbridge Way West sign to Building 5640 on Hollybridge Way)
• Vince Miele - MB#130 (4:57pm. Starting along Hollybridge Way from Building 5640 to Richmond Oval Plaza on River Rd)
• End of Day Celebration - 3:30pm PT [Location: Richmond Olympic Oval - Legacy Plaza, 6111 River Road, Richmond, BC]
• The Relay will end the day with an event in Richmond. Attending: Rick Hansen, Mayor Malcolm Brodie; MP Alice Wong; final Medal-Bearer Vince Miele (sustained a spinal cord injury in 1972; met Rick at GF Strong when he was a rehab counsellor; was employed with the Canadian Paraplegic Association; current Chair of the Richmond Centre for Disability)
• Event begins at 3:30; Relay arrives at 5:00pm
• NOTE TO EDITORS: Rick Hansen will be available for interviews following the formal event

Monday, May 21, 2012 (Day #272: Relay traveling Richmond to Vancouver)

• Relay to visit Musqueam First Nation - 11:30am PT [Location: Musqueam gymnasium (6735 Salish Drive, Vancouver, BC)]
• Rick Hansen to wheel with Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo when the Relay visits the Musqueam reserve in Vancouver. Also participating: Grand Chief Edward John, Musqueam Chief Ernest Campbell and local Aboriginal youth. Local drummers will welcome the Relay to Musqueam land
• NOTE TO EDITORS: Rick Hansen and Chief Atleo will be available for interviews following the formal event, at 12:30pm PT
• End of Day Celebration - 5:00pm PT [Location: PNE Amphitheatre 2901 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC)]
• The Relay will end the day with an event in Vancouver. Event begins at 5:00pm.
• Rick Hansen to wheel with Sarah McLachlan (5:52pm. Starting along E Hastings from Lilooett St to Playland Gate). Relay arrives at 6:00pm
• Attending: Rick Hansen, MLA Ida Chong; MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay; Councillor George Affleck.
• Final Medal-Bearer: Terry Soper (volunteer with the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, Positive Living Society, New Continental Seniors Centre, Gathering Place Community Centre)
• Performing: These Kids Wear Crowns, The Canadian Tenors (anthem)
• NOTE TO EDITORS: Rick Hansen will be available for interviews following the formal event

Notable Participants - May 21, 2012

• Stockwell Day - MB#014 (7:39am. Starting along No 3 Rd from VIP Motors along No 3 Rd)
• Vicki Gabereau - MB#056 (10:25am. Starting along Oak St from 33^rd Ave)
• Christine Day - MB#121 (2:34pm. Starting on W Broadway from Angus Bakery to 3466 W Broadway)
• David Suzuki - MB#146 (4:00pm. Starting along W Broadway from Granville St to Esso on W)
• Pat Quinn - MB#147 (4:03pm. Starting along W. Broadway from Esso to Sony Store)
• Sam Sullivan - MB#148 (4:06pm. Starting along W Broadway from Sony Store to The Dance Shop)
• Sarah McLachlan - MB#183 (5:52pm. Starting along E Hastings from Lilooett St to Playland Gate)

Tuesday, May 22, 2012 (Day #273: 25^th Anniversary Finale; Relay in downtown Vancouver)

• NOTE TO EDITORS: Rick Hansen to wheel with all 65 Relay participants
• Start of Relay - 7:40am PT [Location: PNE Main Entrance, Renfrew St, Vancouver, BC]
• First Medal-Bearer: Virginia Vaillancourt (chair of the Victoria Regional Women's Committee; on Vancouver Island Human Rights Committee)
• City Hall Stop - 9:08am PT [Location: South entrance of City Hall off 12^th Ave W]
• Blusson Spinal Cord Centre - 9:27am PT [ Location: 818 10^th Ave West, Vancouver, BC]
• Hosted by the Rick Hansen Institute, ICORD, Vancouver Coastal Health, VCH Spine Clinic, this community-focused event will bring together health care providers, partners and patients
• Robson Meeting Point Relay arrives: 11:35am PT. Wheeling start: 11:55am PT (expected arrival at BC Place, Terry Fox Plaza, 12:05pm PT)
• Rick Hansen will wheel into Robson Square (Robson and Hornby) where he will be greeted by original members of the Man In Motion World Tour, and 25 selected youth who will join him in the final 250m to the Relay finale at Terry Fox Plaza at BC Place.
• Rick Hansen Relay Finale - 11:45am PT [Location: BC Place, Terry Fox Plaza (Beatty at Robson Streets, Vancouver, BC)]
• The 25^th Anniversary Relay will conclude its nine-month journey 25 years to the date, and at the same location, as where Rick Hansen finished his Man In Motion World Tour. The final Medal Bearer is Amanda Magyar (19 years old, from St. Albert, AB. Local food bank volunteer, mentor and environmentalist. Amanda met Rick when the Relay was in Edmonton, AB. She was chosen to represent the youth of Canada who are making a difference)
• Attending: Rick Hansen, Premier Christy Clark, Mayor Gregor Robertson; MP Alice Wong
• Public event begins at 11:45am
• Relay arrives at 12:05pm
• NOTE TO EDITORS: Rick Hansen will be available for interviews following the formal event at 12:30pm. Live media interview requests will be given priority in the 12:30pm-1:00pm time slot.

Notable Participants - May 22, 2012

• Lui Passaglia - MB#006 (7:55am. Starting along E Hasting from Star Tile and Ceramic)
• Terry David Mulligan - MB#035 (10:08am. Starting along W Broadway from 9^th Ave Cafe to Alder St)
• Silken Laumann - MB#043 (10:32am Starting along Burrard St from Regency Lexus to Cornwall Ave)
• Craig Kielburger - MB#051 (10:56am. Starting along Davie St from Thurlow St)
• George Cohon - MB#062 (11:27am. Starting along Robson St from Silver Gallery to Thurlow St)

Rick Hansen Celebration 25 - 7:30pm PT [Location: Pacific Coliseum. 100N Renfrew St, Vancouver, BC]

• Marking the culmination of the 25^th Anniversary, this special event will honour remarkable Canadians and recognize everyday heroes.
• Speaking: Rick Hansen, Sarah McLachlan, David Foster, Lauren Woolstencroft
• Performing: Sarah McLachlan, David Foster, The Canadian Tenors, Jann Arden, Johnny Reid, Marianas Trench, One More Girl, Don Alder
• CTV will be airing a one-hour special of the concert on Sunday, June 24 2012 at 7:00pm (local time)

- 25^th -

Media Materials:

The following items will be available in the Media Centre on www.RickHansenRelay.com:  Relay route map, full list of communities and dates, list of Medal-Bearers, Media Highlight Sheets with Medal-Bearer stories (one per day, uploaded at least 48 hours in advance), and high resolution images/video. A media FTP site is also available at: ftp.rickhansen.com Username: media Password: RHmed1a1994

About the Rick Hansen Foundation:
In 1987, following the Man In Motion World Tour (MIMWT), Rick established the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) to continue his quest for an accessible and inclusive society and a cure for spinal cord injury (SCI). Under Rick's leadership, RHF functions as a social innovator - finding collaborative solutions to challenges in the community and the resources necessary to implement those solutions. RHF has been successful in leveraging the original $26M raised during the MIMWT to more than $245M in support of people, programs and research in pursuit of a healthier and more inclusive world. As part of the 25^th Anniversary campaign, the Rick Hansen Foundation has launched a national public fundraising campaign to support ongoing programs and initiatives.  For ways to get involved, or to make a donation, please visit www.RickHansen.com.

About the Rick Hansen 25^th Anniversary Relay:
Launched on August 24, 2011 in Cape Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Rick Hansen 25^th Anniversary Relay is retracing the Canadian segment of the original Man In Motion World Tour, traveling 12,000 kilometres, through 600 communities and concluding in Vancouver, British Columbia on May 22, 2012. This time, one will inspire many in motion; engaging 7,000 participants from across Canada who have made their own difference in the lives of others. Please visit www.RickHansenRelay.com.