In 1985, Rick Hansen began a 40,075-km journey; 40 years later, his barrier-free vision lives on

What began as one man pushing his wheelchair across the world became a movement that continues four decades later. On March 21, 1985, Canadian athlete Rick Hansen set out from Vancouver on what would become the Man In Motion World Tour, a 26-month journey through 34 countries and across more than 40,000 kilometres. According to the Rick Hansen Foundation, Hansen and his team ultimately covered 40,075 kilometres and raised $26 million, while drawing global attention to the potential of people with disabilities. In 2026, the foundation is marking the tour’s 40th-anniversary legacy by renewing its call for a world without barriers.

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