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Medal bearers walk, run, dance for relay

The Rick Hansen Relay started at 8:20 a.m.

The Rick Hansen Relay started at 8:20 a.m. Friday in Coquitlam with Lynda Baker, the city's community events co-orindator, and ended at the base of Thermal Drive in Port Moody with Derrick Hill, a Port Coquitlam resident who was part of the original Man in Motion global tour.

In between, dozens of other medal bearers - of all ages, abilities and ethnic backgrounds - walked, ran, pushed strollers and danced their way down their allocated stretch of road, many of them high-fiving people on the sidewalks, posing for photos and waving to passing drivers.

The inspirational morning journey that wound its way from Coquitlam city hall to Port Moody city hall and Rocky Point Park to McDonald's- a major sponsor of the national relay - was filled with hugs, handshakes and smiles from the bearers and their supporters as well as from Rick Hansen Foundation staff, who were travelling on board or beside the rockin' relay motor home.

Among the bearers of note were BC Liberal MLA Colin Hansen (Vancouver-Quilchena), who received his medal in front of Gleneagle secondary on Glen Drive; Brynn Bishop, a 13-year-old Moody middle student who was chosen by the city of Port Moody to run the medal to city hall; Heather Scott, Share's development director; and Jeffrey Fregin, 13, a disabled Coquitlam boy who grinned from ear to ear as he wheeled down St. John's Street with his mother, Carole.

The medal bearers were accompanied on the road by foundation escort Andrew Mack and Ramesh Ferris, 32, a polio survivor from Whitehorse who had a horizontal wheelchair.

Earlier, about 200 people gathered at Port Moody city hall for a 20-minute stop, where Mayor Mike Clay paid tribute to Hansen and the foundation team, which started its cross-country venture last August in Newfoundland to honour the Man in Motion's 25th anniversary.

jwarren@tricitynews.com