Man with spinal injuries to carry Olympic TorchRSS Feed

A man with spinal injuries is to be the community torchbearer when the Olympic Torch Relay completes its leg in Richmond, Canada, later this month.

Rick Hansen sustained a spinal cord injury in a car accident at the age of 15 and has been paralysed from the waist down ever since.

Mr Hansen has won 19 international wheelchair marathons and six medals as a Paralympian since the accident.

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie said: "Rick is both an international hero and a tireless community volunteer."

"We're proud to have him represent Richmond by carrying the torch and lighting the cauldron during our community celebration."

Mr Hansen set out on a journey known as the Man in Motion World Tour in 1985 and travelled, by wheelchair, over 40,000km through 34 countries.

By doing so, he raised $26 million (£16.35 million) for spinal cord injury research and programmes aimed at improving the quality of life of people with such injuries.

Serious Law, leading spinal cord injury solicitors

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