For the first time since Rick Hansen set his wheels in motion in 1985 for his Man in Motion World Tour, and stopped at East Northumberland Secondary School (ENSS) in October 1987, Brighton will take part in the annual Wheels in Motion awareness and fund-raising event.
Dorothy Fletcher attended the May 21 meeting of Brighton Rotary, asking for their support in making the Brighton fund raiser a success. Fletcher is looking for teams or individuals to participate in the June 13 event.
“The Brighton event will benefit those with spinal cord injuries (SCI) and mobility challenges within the community,” said Fletcher. “Half of the money raised stays within the community and half goes toward research. Ninety per cent of what we know now of spinal cord injury has happened in the last ten years.”
SCI affects 40,000 Canadians and their families with more than 1,100 new spinal cord injuries occurring each year. Eighty per cent of these people injured are between the ages of 15 and 34 years of age.
There is a substantial economic burden for SCI in Canada, both in direct and indirect costs. The direct healthcare costs are between $1.25-million and $25-million during the lifetime of each person with SCI, depending on the severity of the injury. Annual healthcare costs for Canadians living with SCI are $750-million. The indirect costs include lost employment earnings and the resulting lost contributions to the economy and tax base.
Anyone wishing to wheel, bike, scoot, roller blade, walk, run jog, or even walk the dog in support of SCI, or if you have an idea for a project on which to use the funds raised, may contact Dorothy at 465-4427. There are no minimum donations required to take part in the two- or four-kilometre walk.
Participants meet at the Brighton Health Services Centre at noon on Sunday, June 13. There will be a free barbeque and refreshments served for those taking part in the Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion event.
by Joyce Robar
