They came, they carried and they had a great time, says Ken Mills local organizing committee chair for The Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay.
Twenty-four people from the 100 Mile House and Mile 108 Ranch area participated in the relay on March 27-28, and joined the 600 other communities across Canada that participated in the re-creation of Rick Hansen’s Man In Motion cross-country journey.
A medal designed by the Royal Canadian Mint was first placed on the shoulders of 13-year-old Jacob Manning on Aug. 24, 2011, which set the tour in motion, passing the medal to each Medal Bearer in the participating communities.
On March 27, the relay started in the 108 Mile Ranch, where spokesperson and Mile 108 Elementary School principal Tom Turner says the turnout was excellent.
“There were about 100 people lining the streets from the community centre to the school.
“It was quite something. About 40 kids walked with the Medal Bearers to the school, where they stopped and did ‘the dance’.”
Mile 108 Elementary students Nieka Embree, Grade 7, and Brayden Herperger, Grade 6, carried the medal from the community centre to the school.
108 Community Association member and co-organizer Bev French was the Medal Bearer from Telqua Drive to 108 Mile Community Hall.
The Rick Hansen team had a presentation at the assembly, Turner says, adding they explained what The Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay was about to the children.
“The kids were doing the dance, which was part of the message to get up and move.”
The first leg of the relay in 100 Mile House started at the corner of Exeter Road and Highway 97, with Medal Bearers carrying the medal for about 250 metres each, says Mills.
“It was great; it really went well.”
On [March 27], people lined Birch Avenue and were yelling and waving, he says, adding it was a “good reception.”
Medal Bearers from the area included Michelle McDermid, Sarah Paterson, Chris Zonruiter, Debbie Dengel, Levi Sellars, Phil Gabel, Taylor Blades, Hannah Hartmann, Eleanor Nicoll, Candace Sikiric, Chris Nickless, Richard Bergen, Janice Yakura. 100 Mile House resident Dianne Bob carried the medal from the Airport Road turnoff to the South Cariboo Rec. Centre (SCRC).
“People joined Dianne, who was the last Medal Bearer of the day, in coming up Airport Road,” says Mills.
“Dianne was so excited she ran into to arena. We had to get her to go back to the foyer and start again.”
The audience was entertained by interactive karaoke, hosted by Soundsharp, prior to the opening ceremony, Mills says, adding the crowd was really motivated by the entertainment and it seemed everyone was singing.
Ingrid Mapson started the ceremony by singing O Canada and then Mills introduced the speakers for the evening.
“The Rick Hansen organization representative Jeremy Fish talked about the history of the relay and the foundation. We worked well together.”
The Canim Lake drummers drummed for Bob as she walked to centre ice. They also drummed for the dignitaries as they walked onto the ice.
“Carrying the medal was exciting, says Bob, and an honour.”
She adds local Special Olympics members followed her up Airport Road.
“The medal was very heavy, almost a pound. I hit my chin when I was taking it off.”
Short speeches were given by Canim Lake Band Chief Mike Archie, Linda Krupp (representing Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod), Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett, District of 100 Mile House Mayor Mitch Campsall, and Cariboo Regional District Area L Director Bruce Rattray.
The entry fee to the ceremony was by donation, and committee member Donna Bellingham says they raised more than $335. Mills notes the committee will get together soon to determine which charity or charities will receive the money.
“It was amazing,” says Bellingham.
“We are so pleased with the amount of the donations. This community is always so generous.”
The audience was then entertained by a sledge hockey game between the 100 Mile House Donex Thrashers Bantam Female Reps and the Williams Lake Bantam Boys Rep Timberwolves.
Mills notes several people tried out the “tubs” after the game.
On March 28, the Medal Bearers started at 100 Mile House Elementary School. The whole school population assembled in the gym, Mills says, and the children were just “pumped.”
Medal Bearers included Kylie Paddison, Ainslie Manson, Tristiana Allwood, Danielle Berze, and Ryan Bock. Mills and Bellingham each carried the medal their distance until reaching the Rick Hansen Motorhome on Highway 97.
The tour stopped in Clinton where Medal Bearers John Evans, Tim Johnson Jared Carrier and Kevin Boys each had their turn of carrying the medal.
The tour also stopped in Lac la Hache where Medal Bearers Nancy Frost, James Milliken and Cindy Grant did the honours.
“This whole event was awesome,” says Mills.
He also gave thanks to committee members Donna Bellingham, Phil Gabel, Kelly De La Mare, Rick Bergen, and Cindy Grant who co-ordinated the sledge hockey game.
Says Bellingham: “The people from Rick Hansen group told me this [celebration] was one of the better ones they have been to.”
