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

Canadian athlete Rick Hansen began a 40,075-km wheelchair journey through 34 countries that raised $26 million (Image Credit: Rick Hansen Foundation) 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.The journey that started a movementHansen was already an accomplished wheelchair athlete when he began planning the journey. His goal was not simply to complete an extraordinary physical challenge. He wanted to change how society viewed people with disabilities and demonstrate what could be achieved when barriers were removed. The tour began in Vancouver on March 21, 1985. Hansen and his team travelled through ...