Rick Hansen concludes China tour at Hong Kong SCI youth Rally; eleven- day visit resu

[manouli]

Rick Hansen concludes China tour at Hong Kong SCI youth Rally; eleven- day visit results in strengthened international collaboration and celebration for positive social change.




4-21-11 1:12 PM EDT |
Rick Hansen concludes China tour at Hong Kong SCI youth Rally; eleven- day visit results in strengthened international collaboration and celebration for positive social change.
Canada NewsWire

HONG KONG, April 21

HONG KONG, April 21 /CNW/ - Rick Hansen, Canada's Man In Motion, addressed a stadium of 1,500 Hong Kong youth today in the final leg of his visit to China where he visited Beijing, Shanghai, Shantou and Hong Kong. The eleven-day trip to China is part of the 25th Anniversary International Program which aims to further international collaboration and partnership agreements in regards to the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry (RHSCIR), recognize international achievements in the areas of finding a cure for spinal cord injuries, celebrate the achievements of the last two and a half decades, and engage youth in meaningful dialogue - all while looking to the future in the hopes that all communities can become healthy, accessible and inclusive.

"It's been incredibly encouraging to see the tremendous progress China has made. Rights for people with disabilities are translated into policy...and you can also see the positive changes in the built environment," said Rick Hansen, President and CEO of the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF). "In the past eleven days, we have been fortunate to meet with great scientists, energized youth, spinal cord patients in hospitals, organizations representing persons with disabilities, and medical leaders in China who are now collaborating with The Rick Hansen Foundation and The Rick Hansen Institute. We are now moving as a global team to share spinal cord research best practices and recognize achievements of individuals who are making a better world in China. My return to this great country this time has been about the many in motion that are joining me to help forge a path to a healthier and more inclusive world."

read...

http://news.morningstar.com/all/cana...al-change.aspx

[0xSquidy]

Now time to get back to your actual job: get nothing done

[Wise Young]

I was at this rally. It was actually quite amazing. About 1500 school children attended this event held at the Shatin Jockey Club, as well as all the major disability associations. People who received awards included 4 people with spinal cord injury and a person who holds a world record in the 100 meter dash in the para-Olympics. It was both uplifting and touching. The school children asked questions of Sang Lan, Christine Leung, and Rick Hansen.

It is part of a significant fundraising drive that we are carrying out in Hong Kong to raise money for the ChinaSCINet trials. We have raised HK$8.2 million (about HK$7.77 per US$1.00) so far and will be running a telethon on April 30.

Wise.

[Patrick Madsen]

Ox, Come to Vancouver and take a tour of Rick's new ICORD Research and Rehabilitation Center. It is a world class SCI Center specializing in SCI issues.

He has spent countless hours on the road helping to organize Nations to raise funds for SCI research and developement.

He and 4 other racers broke the barrier at the 1980 Olympics by being the first disabled racers to do an event in the abled bodied games.

He wheeled around the world doing up to 82 miles a day sometimes hoping to raise awareness of what a disabled person could do. Stan Stronge and I would send him DMSO in far away places to helpease the shoulders. It was all we had back in those days; horse linament.

When he first decided to wheel around the world, it was going to be in honor of our good friend, Terry Fox. He wan't even thinking of SCI research or awareness in the very beginning; it was about Terry.

Soon after, the world tour came together with his vision of SCI awareness. He had no funding or idea of how it would be acomplished but he started to train bigtime for it. As more influential people came on board things barely started to happen.

He went to Bill Reid, the President of the BC Bank at the time, for advice and help with funding. Mr. Reid was Amanda's, his now wife's, father. He was skeptical of anyone in a wheelchair, nevermind one wanting to wheel around the world in a wheelchair. Rick had to climb a flight of stairs to get to the door. When Mr. Reid answered the door and saw him standing there, he remarked that if he could climb those stairs he could make it around the world. The rest is history that I don't need to bore you with.

For a boy freshly injured from Williams Lake,BC to one who undoubtly is one of the best known SCI Advocates and for research in the World; One, who has committed his life to the cause, yet still takes the time to go visit with individuals and encourage them to maximize their potential. I think he does a lot.

Perhaps you should ask Dr. Wise and the other researchers if Rick does anything. SHow some respect for someone with that much history. He makes a good buck at it, big deal; who said life had to be tough.

Now it's your turn to carry on his tradition and get something going in Spain.

[lynnifer]

Excellent post, Patrick.

[canuck]

Excellent post Pat.

[Tetracyclone]

Oxy and the rest of us who resent anyone making good money promoting "the cause":

"Rick's new ICORD Research and Rehabilitation Center. It is a world class SCI Center specializing in SCI issues. "

It is just a fact that CEOs who head organizations of this size and scope get ample salaries. Gifted leaders get paid- it's an Is.

[Patrick Madsen]

I agree Tet, Considering the hundreds of Millions his foundation has raised towards research; what he makes is probably about average for any CEO with the size institute and number of people working for him.

Perhaps "Oxy and the rest of us" should go out and get a job with the same responsibilities and work for a pittance. Rick doesn't live opulently, but he lives a good life and makes a decent living. He's worked over 25 years building what he has.

He also has done, books, lectures and movie deals; for all I know, he could be working for the foundation for a dollar a year. I don't know his salary or care. Considering what he does for SCI and getting Nations to jump on the wagon, he's worth every penny.

[Chris Chappell]

Excellent post(s) Patrick.

How anyone, disabled or not, can begrudge Rick Hanson and all that he has done and continues to do is beyond me. I admire those that try to make positive change, bring awareness, education and motivation to the masses. We need 1000 more of him.

Onward & Upward,

Chris

[keeping on]

Pat, it doesn't really matter what someone soed ofr a living. If this guy feels that compensation suffices for his accomplishments, then ok. I think that Wise and lther researchers who come up with a treatment will receive much more than monetary compensation. for their discoveries. The Christopher Reeve foundation is a good example. They are promoting their own careers and compenstion on life. I posted recently that when I discussed their performance, the answere I got was " it's only been 30 years". We need to recognizae accomplishments and forward movement of a mission or a goal. Wise and others are pursuing this. Let's concentrate on them and weed out the others.


keeping on

[canuck]

Keeping On if we're going to compare apples to oranges I imagine Wise is fairly well compensated too.

Would everybody be happier if Rick hadn't done the tour which ended up raising millions? In the 80's hardly any research was being done, we've made a hell of a lot of advances since then, I know the progress is slow but isn't slow progress better then none?

I don't think it's right say one organisation or person is doing more and then slagging another organisation. That's not directed to you but the thread as a whole.

I don't think we should be be critical of any organization or person involved in cure/treatment research. People really need to think of where we were 20-30 years ago and where we are now. Without Reeve, Hansen, Young and countless others we would be stuck back in a era of no hope, no treatments to minimize the effects of injuries and the countless other areas where progress has been made. It hasn't been fast as we would like it but at least there is forward momentum where there once wasn't.

[paolocipolla]

Ox, Come to Vancouver and take a tour of Rick's new ICORD Research and Rehabilitation Center. It is a world class SCI Center specializing in SCI issues.

He has spent countless hours on the road helping to organize Nations to raise funds for SCI research and developement.

He and 4 other racers broke the barrier at the 1980 Olympics by being the first disabled racers to do an event in the abled bodied games.

He wheeled around the world doing up to 82 miles a day sometimes hoping to raise awareness of what a disabled person could do. Stan Stronge and I would send him DMSO in far away places to helpease the shoulders. It was all we had back in those days; horse linament.

When he first decided to wheel around the world, it was going to be in honor of our good friend, Terry Fox. He wan't even thinking of SCI research or awareness in the very beginning; it was about Terry.

Soon after, the world tour came together with his vision of SCI awareness. He had no funding or idea of how it would be acomplished but he started to train bigtime for it. As more influential people came on board things barely started to happen.

He went to Bill Reid, the President of the BC Bank at the time, for advice and help with funding. Mr. Reid was Amanda's, his now wife's, father. He was skeptical of anyone in a wheelchair, nevermind one wanting to wheel around the world in a wheelchair. Rick had to climb a flight of stairs to get to the door. When Mr. Reid answered the door and saw him standing there, he remarked that if he could climb those stairs he could make it around the world. The rest is history that I don't need to bore you with.

For a boy freshly injured from Williams Lake,BC to one who undoubtly is one of the best known SCI Advocates and for research in the World; One, who has committed his life to the cause, yet still takes the time to go visit with individuals and encourage them to maximize their potential. I think he does a lot.

Perhaps you should ask Dr. Wise and the other researchers if Rick does anything. SHow some respect for someone with that much history. He makes a good buck at it, big deal; who said life had to be tough.

Now it's your turn to carry on his tradition and get something going in Spain.

Do you think Rick Hansen is doing everithing right?

Do you think Rick Hansen is God? (some of my canadian friends do actually)

If I were Rick I would welcome criticism as listening to criticism it is an effective way to improve what one is doing.

Once again I recognise all the good things Rick has done, but I just want to focus on what is the best thing to do today and tomorrow to make a cure happen.

I hope somebody can get this right.

Paolo

[StemCells&AtomBombs]

It's not a matter of slagging off Rick Hansen has done and what he's doing. He has done good work and is doing good work now.
The issue where ther is frustration is that he bandies around the word cure, but we don't see anything in that direction from RHI or ICORD.
I have written, as well as many others, to both orgs asking about what percentage of the budgets go to research on regeneration but there are no answers.
Go to their facebook page and ask about wheelchair racing and they'll answer you in a second. Ask anywhere about their budgets and ther is no response.
How is it that an org like Spinal Cord Society New Zealand, which is poor in comparison, can fund a clinical trial for a cure but RHI and ICORD haven't.
These are important questions and they are completely fair.

I would love people to write and ask. Please share the information you get.
I think the problem here is that people think he's working towards a cure so they compliment him.
But there are no figures or facts to show that he is. No one is criticisng him for not curing SCI, the criticism is that curing sci is no longer the focus.

Please someone, tell me I'm wrong and you have the figures and facts to show that these orgs are committed to curing sci.
Waiting for an answer! I would love to say that I've missed it. I would like to be wrong on this because if a guy like :ansen is working towards the cure, I can really put faith in that.

PS. I don't remember anyone criticisng his salary, so why are people rushing to defend it.

[keeping on]

Stem Cells, you are right. You're questions to Hansen are right on. I've had the same passings with Reeve Foundation and others. We're interested in the word cure and how it might apply to us. We really need a progress report from Wise and others as to the results of their trials. We then need to moveon from there and start to discuss trials for us and talk real results. All the glamour and glitter will take a place at the end of the line. Speaking for myself, I'm not interested in wheechair races and the such. To some, it may be benficial and good for them if it provides glee and progress. We need trials with results and then a line of us to get our therapies. We then have both lanes to pursue, cure and wheelchiar achievments. Take your choice. Hopefully, we will get results and further trials this year that will alow each of us to take our choice.

[poonsuzanne]

Below was the invitation to schools to the Youth Rally on April 21st:-


"Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day &
Celebration of Difference Maker"

INVITATION

Date: 21st April, 2011 (Thursday)
Time: 2:30-4:40 PM
Venue: Shatin Jockey Club -Parade Ring

Dear Principal,

On behalf of the “Hong Kong Spinal Cord Injury Fund (HKSCIF)”, we cordially invite your School’s teachers and students to join us at this commemorative event in celebration of our globally-known ‘Man-in-Motion’ Mr Rick Hansen 動感人• 人感動 on the occasion of his 25th Anniversary World Tour. (Please visit www.rickhansen.com for further information).

Canadian-born Rick Hansen is best known for completing an epic journey, called the “Man In Motion World Tour”. His ‘anything-is-possible’ spirit and his mission in improving the lives of those suffering from disabilities due to spinal cord injury have been inspiring people around the globe since 1985.

“Together, we can make this moment the beginning of the greatest movement for positive change in our history.
If enough of us chose to change one small thing...together, we have the power to change anything.” - Rick Hansen

Here at home, we have our local celebrated life warriors: Dr. Christine Leung, spinal cord injured in car accidence, a positive Life ambassador and Vice-Chair of Direction Association for the Handicapped; Mr. So Wa Wai (蘇樺偉), the disabled sportsman who, despite being born with jaundice which affected both his hearing and balance of his limbs, became a SIX times Gold Medalist and set a new world record at Beijing’s 2008 Paralympics; and Ms. Sang Lan from Peking, a former Chinese gymnast, who achieved excellence in gymnastics at a young age but whose athletic career was cut short as a result of spinal cord injury during the training.

Together they will bring the event to life with their stories of ‘making a difference’.

This rally aims to encourage and inspire our younger generations not to give up easily and promotes the following objectives: (1) to set clear goals in life; (2) to persevere in the face of adversity; (3) to make a difference; and (4) to live a meaningful life.

This event offers great OLE (Other Learning Experiences) and resonates with the Liberal Studies Curriculum, focusing on personal, social and values development. It also provides a very relevant learning experience for the biology and health education curricula in the teaching of the spinal cord. In addition, the experience will provide good inspirations for your students in relevant independent study projects.

The day’s program will be an opportunity for sharing, participation and dialogue, reminding young people around the world that everyday leaders are living among us. Sharing their vision will help build a more prosperous and inclusive world, where barriers are removed and the leaders of today and tomorrow truly believe that it is inside each and every one of us to make a difference. It will certainly bring life-long unforgettable memories and motivation for all.


This event is sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust （香港賽馬會慈善信托基金）, is jointly organized by the following non-profit organizations, including: the Hong Kong Spinal Cord Injury Fund （香港脊髓損傷基金）; the Direction Association for the Handicapped (路向四肢傷殘人士協會); the Hong Kong Paralympics Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (香港殘疾人奧委會暨傷殘人士體育協會); and the Hong Kong International Institute of Educational Leadership (香港國際教賢學院).


We look forward to your participation and support. This will be a unique, meaningful and rewarding opportunity to educate our youngsters and students in how we should value our life and our days (生命的意義). Igniting their passion will make a difference to the future.

Please kindly complete and fax or by email return the reply slip below for enrolling your students into this meaningful programme. First-come-first-served.

Yours Sincerely,

Suzanne Poon
Chairperson, HKSCIFund