Canadians should look to people in their community — not celebrities — for inspiration, Rick Hansen said on Thursday.
The Canadian icon spoke at the Vancouver Board of Trade event Thursday, sharing his stories of inspiration and success. One of the stories was about Terry Fox.
Hansen recalled basketball training in wheelchairs at Simon Fraser University and said Terry was not an extraordinary person but, rather, a Canadian with extraordinary determination.
“One time, the defence collapsed near Terry and accidentally knocked his wig off, shooting it into a corner,” Hansen said. “He hopped over chairs, grabbed it and put on the wig.”
The referee refused to let Fox wear his wig, because it was a “hazard.” Fox threw it onto the side and never looked back. Hansen said what he takes from Fox is his spirit.
“It’s a funny moment for us, an embarrassing moment for him,” Hansen said. “Terry was a regular guy that I watched struggle, live life and stand strong.”
Hansen said his definition of success is self-awareness and living a life based on your own values. He says that some of the biggest dreams in life can never happen unless you have the courage to try.
Hansen wheeled through 34 countries in 26 months to raise awareness for people with disabilities a quarter-century ago. The 25th Anniversary Rick Hansen relay that retraces Hansen’s original route will reach B.C. on March 19 and will end its journey in Vancouver on May 22.
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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