As the Rick Hansen Relay winds its way through Coquitlam and Port Moody today, many young people will be on the sidelines watching this determined hero do his bit to make a difference.
Will they also notice the dozens of other "difference makers" who accompany him, many of them kids who also overcome their own challenges to make the world a better place?
We are thrilled to see Hansen back in the Tri-Cities again, pushing his way up the daunting 1.9 km Thermal Drive to make his point that you can do anything you want if you work hard and have a good attitude. (And it's worth re-reading Hansen's comment on climbing Thermal Hill: "The hill seems insurmountable but the only way you do it is you put your hands on the wheels and you push hard - one stroke at a time.")
Hansen's other underlying message, of course, is that nothing is worth doing unless it also serves others.
What do you think? Have Rick Hansen's efforts made you more aware about disabled people's abilities? Vote in The Tri-City News' online poll.
