A New Westminster woman who recently suffered a spinal cord injury has received some inspiration from the Man in Motion.
While snowboarding on Blackcomb Mountain on April 11, Shannon Elmer was blindsided by a skier, who knocked her head over heels. After being transported by helicopter to Vancouver General Hospital and undergoing surgery as a result to a shattered C5 vertebrae, she spent 23 days in intensive care unit and was later moved to the spinal cord centre.
Ken Elmer, Shannon’s father, said his daughter’s condition has improved slowly but steadily. Once she leaves VGH, she will spend several months at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre.
Record readers have heard a lot about Elmer through the years, as she excelled in five sports at New Westminster Secondary School and later competed in cross-country running while attending the University of British Columbia. In addition to warm wishes from friends around the world, she recently had a special visit from the Man in Motion himself.
Rick Hansen visited Elmer on May 25 “not just to read her the Record,” says her father, but to offer some inspiration.
“Rick’s soft spoken motivation chat was magical,” he said in an email to the Record. “It’s possible for everyone to follow their drams and be the best they can be. Rick’s 24,901 mile wheelchair trip around the world through 34 countries to raise money and create awareness for spinal improvement is a testament to his work. Hope and encourage for all abled and disabled people is his message loud and clear.”
Hansen is known worldwide for his 1985 to 1987 Man in Motion Tour, which raised funds for spinal cord research and increased awareness about the potential of people with disabilities.
Following the Man in Motion Tour, Hansen established the Rick Hansen Foundation to continue raising funds and awareness to improve the lives with people with disabilities. The foundation’s website states it has raised more than $300 million towards removing barriers and finding cures for paralysis after spinal cord injury.
Ken Elmer is asking that anyone who may have information about his daughter’s accident to email him at kenelmer@hotmail.com. The accident occurred about 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 11 on the Blue Line Run, just past Dave’s Dervish.
