There were lots of reasons to celebrate during Day 172 of the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay in Herbert on Saturday.
In addition to celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hansen's inspirational Man in Motion World Tour which travelled across Canada in 1986 and 1987, the event also celebrates individuals who have made a difference in their own communities.
A quartet of difference makers concluded Day 172 of the relay which will wrap up in Vancouver on May 22 after a nine-month, 12,000 kilometer coast-to-coast journey. The medal began Saturday in Moose Jaw before making stops in Caronport, Mortlach, Chaplin, and Herbert before ending up in Herbert with the help of 18 medal bearers. The Feb. 11 medal bearers in Herbert were Randy Arsenault, Clinton Hartog, Lorena Doyle, and Esther Sigurdson, and each join the list of approximately 7,000 medal bearers who have been singled out for helping make a difference in their own communities.
"That's really what we're trying to do through this 25th anniversary is not only look back over the 25 years and celebrate the accomplishments - changes in building structures in places of education, places of employment - but also the accomplishments. The accomplishments of individuals, who like Rick, are leading our communities," explained Jim Richards, Executive Director of the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay.
"The prairies have been among our coldest locations, but the warmest, absolutely, in terms of the greeting and the spirit that we've seen in the communities. And it's that community spirit which built these communities and made them so strong over the years," Richards said during his remarks to 100 people at the Herbert and District Sports Complex.
Randy Arsenault from Kyle was the first individual to receive the medal for its trip around Herbert on Saturday afternoon. He noted he was dedicating his portion of the relay to friend Tom Mackie who suffered spinal injuries during an accident.
"I'm doing this for him, and also for awareness. If this accident happened 20 years ago it wouldn't look as good, because of Rick (Hansen) and all the awareness and all the research that has gone into spinal cord injuries. We have made leaps and bounds."
The Kyle resident said there is more that can be done to inspire additional people to make a difference in their home communities. He noted there is an active recycling program in Kyle, but he will be encouraging people to be more green and more fully supportive of recycling initiatives.
"I'm going to be promoting this at work and making people more aware, even more than what they are already aware of," Arsenault said after the relay. "It was great to have this opportunity."
Esther Sigurdson, one of two people being recognized with a 2012 Scotiabank Humanitarian Awards for Lifetime Achievement at the Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation's Gala on Feb. 17, was the final medal bearer on Saturday.
Sigurdson shared her medal bearer moment with Dean Tide, with the duo completing the final 250 meter leg to the Sports Complex.
"I'm happy Dean that you could be with me today on that last segment," she told the audience at the relay end of day celebration. "I have known Dean a long time and worked with him. He has had the misfortune of having a head injury, and is blind. I'm amazed at the courage he has to face handicaps and disabilities. And we all have opportunities here in town to make a difference in somebody's life. Although I have gone overseas, I want to tell you that it starts here at home. We have little things, all kinds of things we can do, and we can make the difference in Dean's life but in many other people's lives around as well," Sigurdson said.
The relay team had Sunday off, but Monday kicks off another busy day where the Rick Hansen medal travels from Herbert to Swift Current.
The Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay website lists the following medal bearers and route details for a busy Monday. Other medal bearers will also be participating during portions of the route.
HERBERT
Jessica Dyck - 12:49 p.m., Herbert School to Bison Ave.
Terence (Troy) Enns - 12:53 p.m., Bison Ave. to Leonard St.
Amee Toporchak - 12:56 p.m., Leonard St. to House 204.
Brendan Ross - 1:02 p.m., Dominion St. to Herbert Heritage Manor.
RUSH LAKE
Barry Hutt - 1:54 p.m. and 1:57 p.m., Russell Fersch.
WALDECK
Brenda Wilms - 2:33 p.m., Waldeck School to Braun St.
SWIFT CURRENT
Darby-Jayne Fletcher - 4:06 p.m., O.M. Irwin School to Entrepreneurial Centre along George St.
Marshall Siemens - 4:09 p.m., Entrepreneurial Centre to near 4th Ave. N.E. along George St.
Melissa Thibault - 4:12 p.m., 4th Ave. N.E. to 2nd Ave. N.E. along George St.
Gary Leier - 4:18 p.m., Alexander St. to Central School along 1st Ave. N.W.
Jackie Powell - 4:21 p.m., Central School to Court House along 1st Ave. N.W.
Adam Jackson - 4:24 p.m., Court House to Sidney St. along 1st Ave. N.W.
Alison Banman - 4:27 p.m., Sidney St. to Big Sky Cycle along 1st Ave. N.W.
Meaghan Lawrence - 4:36 p.m., 2nd Ave. N.E. to 4th Ave. N.E. along Cheadle St.
Sarah Mcdonald - 4:39 p.m., 4th Ave. N.E. to North St., turning from Cheadle St. to 6th Ave. N.E.
Scott Rein - 4:42 p.m., North St. to 8th Ave. N.E., turning from 6th Ave. N.E. to Chaplin St. E.
Vinessa Currie-Foster - 4:48 p.m., from bridge to 13th Ave. N.E. on Chaplin St. E.
Joseph Chiliak - 4:54 p.m., 15th Ave. N.E. to 18th Ave. N.E. on Chaplin St. E.
The final medal bearer Jayci Wittmeier is expected to arrive at the i-plex at 5 p.m. Celebration activities will also include a wheelchair hockey demonstration (4:40 p.m.); Rick Hansen Relay displays; a Chili Cook-off (free samples, buns and drinks available); skating relays featuring Atom Division players (5:15 p.m.); and one hour of free public skating with Charlie Horse, SunDog, and Ronald McDonald starting at 5:30 p.m.
