Richmond Review, May 18, 2012

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REVIEW FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

36 PAGES

An unexpected difference-maker Emily de Boer found inspiration from Rick Hansen; now she and her sister are medal bearers in 25th anniversary relay

Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay •More than 7,000 medal-bearers are helping trace the original Man In Motion Tour across Canada. It winds its way through Richmond Sunday May 20, stopping at a number of community centres and other locations, including Fisherman’s Wharf in Steveston.

by Matthew Hoekstra Staff Reporter

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t was the biggest stage Audrey de Boer had faced. But after a few voice lessons she sang a heartfelt song to her sister Emily, whose life had just been turned upside down. Emily had taken strength from a necklace engraved with a simple word—believe—to be in Garry Point Park that night, her first major outing since an operation four months earlier left her paralyzed in hospital. Tears were shed that night when Audrey, 10, sang “The Climb,” a Miley Cyrus song about staying strong through life’s struggles—and Emily was doing just that. It was Emily, after all, who organized much of the event from her hospital bed: a fundraiser with music, food and dancing that raised $17,000 for the Rick Hansen Foundation. It was something she wanted to do for other kids in her situation, after the bright, athletic 12-year-old lost the use of her legs following a surgical attempt to correct a spine curvature in February 2011. Emily was captain of her soccer team and co-captain of her hockey team. She’s now in a wheelchair after spending a year in hospitals and rehabilitation centres. But she’s not hiding on the sidelines. Emily and Audrey are both medal-bearers in the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay. The sisters will stay together as each takes a turn Sunday bearing a silver medal that’s made its way across Canada, carrying the spirit of Hansen, Canada’s Man In Motion. Hansen inspired Emily early on. He visited in hospital, telling her to be strong—that he would be right by her side. It was then he suggested the young girl be a part of the 12,000-kilometre relay. See Page 3

•Fraser Walters of the Canadian Tenors will sing “O Canada” to welcome Rick Hansen to the official End of Day Celebration at the Richmond Olympic Oval. •Free event begins at 3:30 p.m. with outdoor entertainment on the oval’s southeast plaza, including rock/pop music from SideOne and a demonstration by Para Taekwondo, a martial arts program for people with disabilities. Formal ceremonies begin with the arrival of Hansen at 5 p.m.

Matthew Hoekstra photo Charmis de Boer (right), with her daughters Audrey, 10, and Emily, 12, who are both participating in the Rick Hansen Relay Sunday.

•Relay concludes in Vancouver May 22, after travelling through more than 600 communities in its nine-month, 12,000-kilometre journey across Canada.

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