The Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay powered through Bowden on Thursday afternoon as part of its tour through Central Alberta last week. A total of four runners from Bowden ran the 25th anniversary medallion through town, beginning at the town office and ending at the Bowden Grandview School.
Prior to the relay, staff members from the relay briefed the runners on what they would be expected to do during the walk through town, as well as getting an understanding of how they were nominated to take part in the walk – as difference-makers in the community.
While Pat Downey, a transport assistant with the tour, said the world tour Hansen went on 25 years ago was focused on one man making a difference by wheeling around the world to raise awareness about spinal injuries, the focus this time around is celebrating all the difference-makers in each of the communities the medallion visits.
The 12,000-kilometre tour across Canada closely follows Hansen's original tour.
“This whole relay … is all to focus on one thing – many difference-makers,” he said.
Downey said often the most important people in the community are those that make small – yet significant – contributions to the community.
“Some of the smallest things are often the most important. Those little things make all the difference in the world,” he said.
Aleah Pineau, a Grade 12 student at Bowden Grandview School, was one of the four runners to participate in the tour. She was nominated by BGS principal Brett Caukill for her work with a special needs student in the kindergarten class. She has been helping out in the kindergarten class for the last two years.
Pineau took the medallion the last few hundred metres back to BGS, where much of the student body of the school cheered her on.
Pineau said she was honoured to be one of the 7,000 people across Canada to participate in the relay.
“It means a lot. I get to experience something that only a few people do, so I feel very lucky to get to do this, to represent my school and my town. It felt amazing to have them cheer,” she said.
The tour through Alberta started near Medicine Hat on Feb. 18 and will be in the Wild Rose province until March 19.
Jamie Levchuk, managing director for the Rick Hansen Relay, said the purpose of the event is to tell Hansen's story to a new generation and to raise awareness about spinal injuries and the need for inclusive spaces.
“We wanted … to showcase these people who are showing us the same values that Rick did 25 years ago, but are doing it …in their communities. They're difference-makers in their communities,” he said.
"I get to experience something that only a few people do, so I feel very lucky to get to do this."Aleah Pineau, BGS student, participated in Rick Hansen relay
