Junior Rangers part of Man-In-Motion Relay
This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Rick Hanson Man In Motion World Tour (MIMWT), and three Junior Canadian Rangers (JCRs) from across the north experienced the opportunity to be a part of this celebration in Calgary, Alberta on February 27, 2012.
Seventeen year old Junior Ranger Junette
Kingmiaqtuq of Taloyoak, NU, wearing Rick
Hanson’s silver medal was one of 7000 medal
bearers selected from across Canada to
participate in the 25th anniversary tour.
This inspiring journey began on August 24, 2011 in Cape Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador and fully recreates the original Man in Motion cross-Canada tour. Selected via a national public contest, JCRs Junette Kingmiaqtuq, 17, from Talyoak, NU, Tracella Romie, 16, from Wha Ti, NT and Kurt Spenner, 15, from Carcross, YT, were three of 7,000 participants who walked, ran, wheeled or biked their 250 metre segment of the Relay.
It was Day 188 of the tour that these youth from the three territories will remember most. "This is very exciting", said JCR Kingmiaqtuq, "My mom is in a wheel chair so it feels extra special to be selected for this commemorative relay."
The invitation to join Rick’s Man In Motion journey towards a cure and a more inclusive society inspired the Junior Rangers to help be a difference maker.
"It feels good to support the Rick Hanson Man In Motion Relay", said JCR Spenner, "I am proud to represent the north and the Yukon in the Relay".
Fifteen year old Junior Ranger Kirk Spenner from Carcross, YT, gives a high five to the next Rick
Hanson silver medal bearer during the recreation of the Man In Motion cross Canada tour in Calgary.
One singular medal, created by The Royal Canadian Mint is carried by the 7,000 Medal-Bearers in the relay across Canada. The medal is a tribute to his experience and to Canadians and people from around the world who continue to be inspired by the Man in Motion World Tour to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Each Medal-Bearer will receive their own replica medal to permanently remember the way in which they personally added to the momentum of the 25th Anniversary Tour.
"I was thrilled to be a medal bearer, this is a memory to last a lifetime", said JCR Romie, "It was a huge honour to be a part of this."
Junior Canadian Ranger Tracella Romie from Wha Ti, NWT, stands next to the relay bus ready to
be transported to her leg of the 25th anniversary relay in Calgary, Alberta on February 27, 2012.
Recreating the Canadian portion of the Man In Motion World Tour from St. John's, Newfoundland to Vancouver, British Columbia, the Relay featured Medal-Bearers donning the 25th Anniversary Relay Medal, a powerful symbol of hope.
Junior Rangers Tracella Romie from Wha Ti, Junette Kingmiaqtuq from Taloyoak and Kirk Spenner
from Carcross, proudly show off the replica medals given to each medal bearer for participating
in the 25th anniversary Man In Motion Tour.
"We were ecstatic to have three JCRs represent the north to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Man In Motion World Tour", said Captain Sharon Low, JCR Officer, "Our youth were inspired by other medal bearers, showed great momentum in the relay and this event was both exciting and rewarding for them." The 25th Anniversary Tour began on August 24, 2011, and will end in Vancouver on May 22, 2012 recreating the 12,000-kilometre journey across Canada in support of spinal cord research and quality of life initiatives.
