The Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay will be passing through Antigonish today at 5:00 pm.  Community members of all ages are invited to the end of day celebration at StFX Oland Stadium where Bernie Chisholm will be the medal bearer finishing the last leg of the relay for the day.

Bernie Chisholm is a long-time running coach in the Antigonish area and has been the head coach of the StFX cross country program for the past 26 years. He will be paid tribute for his many years of service to coaching, organizing and promoting running in our community.

More information on the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay follows.

The Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay Overview

The Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay is an exciting and inspiring journey beginning on August 24, 2011 in Cape Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador. Retracing the Canadian portion of the original Man In Motion World Tour the Relay will travel westward and make its way across the country over nine months, before concluding in Vancouver, BC on May 22, 2012. This time one man in motion will be represented and celebrated by many in motion; engaging 7,000 participants from across Canada who have made their own difference in the lives of others. With a shared vision of celebrating everyday Canadians’ contributions to their communities, McDonald’s and Nike have joined as the

Presenting Partners of the Rick Hansen Relay.

Selected via a national public contest (available at www.RickHansenRelay.com), 7,000 participants will walk, run, wheel or bike their segment of the Relay. While Rick will be present at a number of cities and stops along the 25th Anniversary Relay, it will be these 7,000 participants who will complete this cross-Canada tour. As the Relay travels westward, each participant will pass the singular Rick Hansen Medal to one another along the 12,000 kilometre journey. The Rick Hansen Medal – created by the Royal Canadian Mint – is not only a symbol of Rick’s inspiring story of courage and determination, but it also represents the potential all of us to make a difference in our communities, our country and our world.

Medal-Bearers

Participants include individuals whose efforts have removed barriers and contributed to making their community more healthy and inclusive, persons who have overcome adversity, promising youth leaders, and those who are committed to making a difference in the lives of others. As the Relay makes its way across the country, these difference makers’ remarkable stories will not only showcase the positive impact that they have made in their communities, but will also remind us that we can all become powerful champions of change – coming together to build a stronger Canada and a better world.

Community Celebrations

Each Relay day will feature community celebrations that recognize local difference makers, celebrate progress that has been made and inspire a new generation to join Rick in accelerating progress toward a more healthy, inclusive world. Communities both on and outside the relay route will have an opportunity to celebrate in their own way with the help of a community event guide developed by the Rick Hansen Foundation.
Route

The Relay route fully recreates the original Man In Motion cross-Canada tour, spanning 12,000 kilometres from coast to coast, travelling through over 600 communities and reaching over 70% of the Canadian population. The average Relay distance covered in a day will range from 40 to 80 kilometres. The original route will be expanded for the 25th Anniversary Relay to incorporate visits to every capital city and will visit all provinces and territories.

The Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay Fast Facts:

• Begins on August 24, 2011 in Cape Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador and concludes in Vancouver, British Columbia on May 22, 2012.
• Fully recreates the original Man In Motion cross-Canada tour, spanning 12,000 kilometres from coast to coast.
• Will travel through over 600 communities, visit every capital city and all provinces and territories and reach more than 70% of the Canadian population.
• Will engage approximately 7,000 participants – difference makers in their own right – who will cover an average of 40 to 80 kilometres a day, making their way across the country and passing the singular Rick Hansen Medal to the next participant.
• All Canadians (13 years and up) will be able to apply to become a participant through the online contest at RickHansenRelay.com .
For more information on the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay, please visit www.RickHansenRelay.com.