Rick Hansen

http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=good+pictures+of+ric (unknown)

My hero is Rick Hansen. Rick was born on August 26th, 1957, in Port Alberni, British Columbia. Rick Hansen is famous because he is a Paralympic and has been for 29 years, and is still an athlete in the Paralympics today. Rick Hansen is worth knowing about because in 1984 Rick was on his way back from a fishing trip with friends and hitchhiked a ride from a stranger and it got out of control and he was thrown from the back of the pickup truck and got a spinal cord injury. Later in the hospital he and his family found out that he was paralyzed from the waist down.

Rick spent his childhood in Port Alberni, British Columbia. Rick was very close with his family, especially with his father and grandfather. Rick and his grandfather went on numerous fishing trips during Rick's childhood and sometimes still go today. Rick also coached the volleyball and basketball team in high school. Rick attended Williams Lake High school. Rick has three sisters: Emma, Alana and Rebecca. Rick's family was very supportive of Rick's dreams to become a Paralympic athlete because they wanted him to succeed in life.

Rick Hansen went to the University of British Columbia. Rick also earned a degree in physical education. Rick Hansen did have a job in volleyball coaching and also in basketball coaching. Rick Hansen looked up to his old friend Terry Fox; Terry Fox and Rick Hansen met while playing on the same wheelchair basketball team in B.C.

Rick Hansen (http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=good+pictures+of+ric (unknown))

Rick Hansen had a goal to raise money for spinal cord research; when he was paralyzed. Rick Hansen achieved this by wheeling around 34 countries and 4 continents in a wheelchair. Rick Hansen also married Amanda Reid Hansen. Rick Hansen also published a book "going the distance".

Rick Hansen made a difference by helping raise money to research a cure for spinal cord injuries. Our lives would be nothing without goals, because if we didn't set goals in life we wouldn't succeed. Rick Hansen has influenced my life by showing me that you can live your life no matter what happens; you will always succeed. Rick Hansen has changed lives all over the world.