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Man in Motion will wheel here

The Man In Motion is expected to roll through the Tri-Cities next May at the tail-end of a national relay to mark the 25th anniversary of his global tour.

The Man In Motion is expected to roll through the Tri-Cities next May at the tail-end of a national relay to mark the 25th anniversary of his global tour.

Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam are set see Rick Hansen, a fundraiser and advocate for spinal cord injury research, on May 17, 2012 while Port Moody will greet him the next day.

Thursday, PoCo Mayor Greg Moore announced his city's Spirit committee will meet next month to work out the details for a welcoming event.

Costs haven't been ironed out but, in a report presented this week to the city of Coquitlam's recreation committee, it is estimated a full-day celebration (including RCMP traffic control and wrap-up party) would be up to $58,000; the Rick Hansen Foundation has no funding to offset the expenses, said Lori MacKay, Coquitlam's general manager of parks, recreation and cultural services.

Still, Coquitlam staff have invited foundation officials to talk about the city's level of participation (a call to the city of Port Moody was not immediately returned yesterday).

Moore said he's eager to see Hansen back in his community. The mayor said he remembers standing on the corner of Coast Meridian Road and Prairie Avenue one early morning 25 years ago as Hansen wheeled by.

Moore also noted Hansen's connection to PoCo: A friend of Terry Fox, Hansen has participated in nearly every Terry Fox Hometown Run and spoken about the need to raise money to beat cancer.

The Man in Motion tour took 26 months and saw Hansen pass through 34 countries. This week, as part of his worldwide anniversary tour, he returned to China and wheeled along the Great Wall.

During his journey across Canada, Hansen, a Richmond resident, took on one of his toughest climbs - Coquitlam's Thermal Drive - before finishing the tour on May 22, 1987; for the 20th anniversary in 2007, he tackled the steep hill again. But relay spokesperson John Gibson told The Tri-City News there are no plans for Hansen to challenge Thermal a third time.

Hansen's commemorative relay will be held over nine months and will include 600 municipalities, starting Aug. 24, 2011 at Newfoundland's Cape Spear and ending on May 22, 2012 in Vancouver. It will involve 7,000 participants chosen in a national contest and will finish each day with a community celebration, much like the Olympic torch relay.

To be part of the relay, visit rickhansenrelay.com to apply. Entrants must be 13 or older and must demonstrate how they are improving the lives of other Canadians.

jwarren@tricitynews.com