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They came to raise awareness and funds in the name of the Man in Motion. They left having done both in the name of community.
Squamish marked the eighth annual Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion and the 25th anniversary of the wheelchair athlete's historic round-the-world journey to raise awareness with a fun-filled event on Cleveland Avenue Saturday (June 12).
With more people, as many as double last year's event, organizers called the event "bigger and better."
Last year's event raised $7,000. Part way through this year's event, a rough running total put monies raised approaching $5,000. Since Wheels in Motion was launched in 2003, over $10 million has been raised across Canada and more than 900 quality-of-life projects have been funded.
"Half of what is raised stays right here in Squamish," noted 2010 Squamish Wheels in Motion committee leader Kristen McBride.
Funding from last year's event helped make Stan Clarke Park accessible.
Event participants discovered first hand about accessibility and what it's like to navigate through life in a wheelchair during a wheelchair challenge relay. Teams of four took turns maneuvering around a series of pylons, wheeling through a coat check and a shopping challenge, spelling a letter in the word team using a pencil in their mouths, shooting a basketball through a hoop, then sprinting back to the startling.
Providing the ultimate in event security, RCMP auxiliary constables John Bainbridge and Cory Vaughan tested the course.
"Running the course was very difficult," said Bainbridge.
"I had no idea," added Vaughan, having gained a better understanding of the everyday challenges faced by wheelchair users.
This year's event adds to the awareness momentum built by last year's event - and hosting the 2010 Winter Paralympic Games, noted Mayor Greg Gardner.
"Part of the challenge of accessibility is bringing awareness to it." said Gardner. "It means understanding what the challenges are, whether it means reaching up to a counter or getting over an obstacle.
"Awareness brings changes to policies. In the District of Squamish we are ensuring that buildings are constructed in an accessible manner, and the same thing happens with our streets and sidewalks."
Gardner also had a message for supporters, volunteers and participants from the Man in Motion himself, reading a letter to the gathering from Rick Hansen.
"Everyone here is part of a larger community that is striving to realize the same dream, a Canada that is inclusive, accessible for everyone, and that speaks to who we are as Canadians." wrote Hansen.
"We have not reached the end of our journey, but the efforts of everyone here today, and the thousands of others across the country are bringing us closer to the finish line.
"When we dream alone it's just a dream, but when we dream together it's the beginning of reality."
For more information about Wheels in Motion go to www.wheels-inmotion.org.
