It isn't often that you get to give back to someone who made a difference in your life.
For Arcola resident Lucille Weber, the chance came after seeing a television commercial late in 2011.
"I first saw the invitation for people to take part in the (Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary) Relay in, I think, September of last year," Weber said. "That is what got me started."
To find the root of the story, you have to travel back in time, 25 years, to a holiday jaunt that Weber was taking.
"We were on our way to Banff for a skiing trip," Weber explained," And we passed the Hansen entourage on their way across Canada."
Twenty-five years ago, Rick Hansen, confined to a wheelchair, completed an amazing 34-country, 26 month, round-the-globe relay called "The Man In Motion World Tour," to raise awareness and money for issues related to disability, especially spinal cord injuries.
It was this tour that Weber passed.
"It was a really ugly day out, windy and raining and really cold," Weber said. "I remember seeing him, and it looked like he was really struggling."
"I thought to myself, 'wow, this guy could just quit and go home any time.'" Weber remembered. "It really kind of struck me, moved me, that he would do that for his cause."
While excited at the prospect in taking part in the anniversary rally, Weber quickly forgot about it.
"I sent off the e-mail and promptly forgot all about it," Weber said. "I didn't really think I would hear back."
But hear back she did, and within a couple of short months, she was approved for taking part in the run, specifically in the area of Broadview, SK.
"I was asked if I would like to nominate someone else to join us on the run, and I nominated Cathy (Burton) to join us," Weber said. "Cathy and I both kind of moved through the same life issues together, and we have been working together on things like the Moose Mountain Marathon, so I thought she would appreciate the opportunity."
"I was also asked if I wanted to invite some family along, so I brought my granddaughter Cassidy (Weber)," Weber said. "She is only eight, but she's a figure skater, and she is really dedicated to that."
Though Cassidy was too young to handle Hansen's one-pound, solid-silver medal, Weber felt fortunate to hand it off to her friend Burton.
"The medal itself was just beautiful," Weber recalled. "It was intricate with all the designs and it was just gorgeous."
"We ran a 250 metre section of the Broadview relay," Weber said. "We were hoping for longer, but I was just happy to take part, and I was thrilled to be able to hand the medal off to Cathy."
The medal continues to be carried across the country by volunteer runners are part of the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay.
Information about Rick Hansen, his epic run, the anniversary relay, and how you can help, can be found at www.rickhansen.com.
You can also look up the Rick Hansen page on Facebook, where two photos featuring the Arcola group can be found for Day 163.
