Wheels in Motion
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Jim Nielson has always had a passion for anything with two wheels.
He lived for mountain biking and road racing, either bicycles or motorbikes; but it was that same passion that almost took his life away.
“At the time of the accident I had booked a mountain biking trip in Costa Rica,” says Nielson. But instead of taking the trip, he was fighting for his life.
Nine years ago, Nielson was in a motorbike accident that left him with a five percent chance of living, and no use of his legs.
“I had to be revived three times,” says Nielson. “They found my watch 200 feet away from the accident scene; but it was still working because it was a Timex.”
Going from enjoying an active lifestyle to relying on homecare workers to support him through the most basic life functions was the new reality for Nielson, who is now confined to a wheelchair. He speaks about his accident readily and openly, and Nielson enjoys Pitt Meadows because it’s “nice and flat.”
On Tuesday afternoon, Nielson and other event organizers inspected the route that the participants of an upcoming event will travel. They were checking for accessibility and comfort. Grates, curbs and puddles are areas of concern, as something that those on foot take for granted can be a tough obstacle for someone in a wheelchair.
The 5th Annual Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion Event is held in cities across Canada, and focuses on a 2 kilometre course that circles downtown Haney, and can be wheeled or walked.
“It’s been a growing effort,” says Event Chair Bruce Wilson. “We are hoping to double our participants this year. It’s all about awareness.”
Nielson has been the third highest fundraiser for the event in Canada for the past two years, and is hoping to be number one this time.
“But I don’t care if I’m third or three-hundred and third,” says Nielson. “I just want to see the money put to use in a positive way.”
The course starts at the Memorial Peace Park, continues along Dewdney Trunk to 227th, and then back to the park along Lougheed.
“The city just upgraded 227 St.,” says Wilson. “And it is supposed to be 100% wheelchair accessible.”
Wilson was inspired to help with this event by Rick Hansen.
“He is my hero,” Wilson says. “Both he and Terry Fox were ordinary guys living ordinary lives until they were faced with adversity. Then they took the experience and turned it into something positive.”
Along the test-run, Nielson points out the obstacles that demonstrate how difficult it can be to navigate a wheelchair; broken glass and slight inclines pose harsh challenges.
“Until you are sensitized to it, you don’t realize how many people there are out there in chairs,” says Wilson. He hopes that the event can become as wellknown as the Terry Fox Run.
“Young people don’t realize that they are not invincible,” adds Nielson. “These events can help raise the awareness of not only people living with these injuries, but also prevent others from taking unnecessary risks,”
The Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion Event takes place Sunday, June 10th. If you are interested in participating, or pledging a participant such as Jim Nielson, you can visit www.wheelsinmotion.org.
