Rick Hansen, l'homme en mouvement (art. anglais)

March 19, 2010 at 9:20 AM EDT The Globe and mail

Rick Hansen: Usually the biggest demon is what's inside your head
A quarter century after Rick Hansen’s Man in Motion Tour took off, he’s launching a global initiative to raise $200-million for spinal injuries. And his best work, he says, is still ahead of him.

By Sarah Hampson, Vancouver

"I have never seen the driver since the day of the accident,” admits Rick Hansen out of the blue. His face registers curiosity and bewilderment – that day in 1973 when he and a friend were thrown from the back of a pick-up truck on their way home from a fishing trip near Bella Coola, B.C., is far in the past but never forgotten. His friend walked away. Mr. Hansen was left a paraplegic at age 15.

The driver never sought him out? Mr. Hansen shakes his head. And he never wanted to find him? “Maybe one day.” He pauses thoughtfully. “Because I hope that he wouldn’t be living with any guilt.” The driver had had a couple of beers and lost control. He too was uninjured. “Life happens for whatever reason,” says Mr. Hansen.

 
Published in l'Inclusif, March 19th.
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