Rick Hansen Relay

 After months and months of planning and organizing, the Rick Hansen Relay finally occurred in our little town of Invermere on Friday April 13,2012.   It was a very inspiring, emotional and overwhelming day.  I am still trying to wrap my head around it all so bear with me while I try to explain what went on and how I felt on that magical day.  I think I told you that I had the privilege of being a medal bearer on that day.  So, the first thing we had to do Friday was to go to a briefing.  We got our uniforms, which are awesome Nike yellow ones that I plan to wear the jacket of every day until the end of Rick's Journey.  We got a briefing of what our day would be like and also got to get to know everyone and hear their stories of why they got chosen.  They were pretty inspiring people who have been through circumstances from massive strokes to surviving childhood leukemia.  Then there were people who have done a lot around the valley, such as some of my school classmates who are active members of the leadership program at school.  It was a pretty tough crowd to beat!  They're  all very inspiring people and it was an honour to be running with them.  After we heard all the instructions of the relay and got to know each other  a bit, we met our partner who would be  handing us the medal in the relay.  My partner was  a girl from school, and who I've known all my school years wit, so it was pretty special to be  getting the medal from her.  So, after the meeting we got in  a bus that escorted all the difference makers to where they would be  running.  While we were riding, we got to watch a bunch of different movie  clips on Rick Hansen and some of the inspiring things he did other than his run, such as wheelchair bungee jumping.  We also watched a message from him to us saying that we were all chosen for this because we have done something to make the world a better place.  A lot of people thought that Rick Hansen was actually coming to town.  That's not entirely true, part of his team is.  he won't be there but it is still very inspiring.  Rick is probably one of the best examples of someone who has tried to make this world a more inclusive place.  When he did his run the first time, he was raising money for spinal cord injuries, but on  this second time around, it was to make  everyone realize about all the different people we have in our world that we should celebrate.  He didn't want to do the run himself this time.  He wanted nominated difference makers to do it with him, so that we can celebrate all the strides that people have made that have made this world better.  Invermere nominated difference makers that make this town better.  Anyway, i was the last one off the bus.  my stop was at a store called Rainbow Donkey.  That's where I got the medal from my friend, Ciona.  We were pretty excited to see each other.  The journey meant a lot to us both.  She passed me the medal, and we gave each other a big high five, got our picture together, and I was off.  I walked my route with my mom!  I loved walking  I felt very proud.   I got to walk with my mom, witch was special.  We were both quite emotional with being proud of Rick and being part of this inspirring event and everything.  We we running behind a truck that had loud Shaina Twain music playing, so focusing on the music helped us keep our cool a bit.  I  had a huge fan club.  Family and friends, and Nat's friends were all cheering me on.  It was another moment that I felt very lucky to have so many people that care about me.  I was chosen as the last difference maker, which meant I got to go on stage.  I got represented by the Mayor and the host of the event.  They said a few words about who I was and then guess what?  The mayor read a quote from this blog.  It was the one I wrote about being disabled.  I was shocked!  Thank you Gerry Taft!  Its great to know who is reading this.  I got to place the medal in a case  as a symbol of it being passed on to a new generation of difference makers.  All the difference makers got to keep a replica of the medal.  it's very beautiful and a great keepsake.   It has been cool showing mine to all my friends.    Later there was a local choir that the medal barriers got to sing O Canada with. Then there was a big cake for dessert celebrating Rick Hansen and all the difference makers.  I got to make the first cut in the cake.   That was cool!  The rest of the day there was just different disabled displays on like wheelchairs for able bodied kids to try and wheel themselves in.  One of my friends from skiing is coming up with a program  for disabled kids to go rowing.  in a row boat the seats usually move, so it would be hard for a disabled person to balance.  This row boat  has a special  fixed seat so it doesn't move.  the disabled student sits in that and the instructor sits in the back teaching them how to row.  It looks like fun and the man that is running it is really keen on giving me  a chance to try it so I will be interested to go for a ride!  Anyway, I hope I expained myself well enough!  That was just an awesome,awesome day! Rick Hansen, you are my forever hero!

\