Yellowknife (June 06/03) - Yellowknife will be one of 25 cities across Canada participating in the first Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion event June 14.

Rick Hansen, who was paralyzed in a truck accident when he was 15 years old, embarked on his Man in Motion World Tour in 1985. Travelling around the world in his wheelchair for over two years, he raised millions of dollars for spinal cord injury research.

The Rick Hansen Man in Motion Foundation created this national event as a way to continue raising awareness and funds for the field of spinal cord injury.

Yellowknifers are encouraged to come out and walk, run, bike, or wheel for spinal cord injury research.

"We wanted to make sure that the North was represented," said Shawn Roper, who works for the Canadian Paraplegic Association and is on the organizing committee for the event.

Participants should meet at the legislative assembly parking lot at noon for registration.

The Wheels in Motion event will start at 1:30 p.m.

There will be yogurt and health break snacks provided.

People walking or running will have a five-kilometre route along Frame Lake Trail.

A route for unicyclists is being developed. One for cyclists and in-line skaters is also in the works and will move away from the Frame Lake Trail. Both will be five kilometres.

Organizers would like to have 200 to 300 people participate.

"We'd like as many as we can get," Roper said.

Since the event takes place at the same time the Mine Rescue Games does, Roper thinks that since Wheels in Motion is a national event, more people will want to participate.

Pamphlets and posters advertising the fundraising event have been distributed to businesses around the city.

Both small and corporate donations can be made at Scotiabank, the major sponsor of the tour.

Bank employees are volunteering their time and raising money for Wheels in Motion.

If someone donates over $20, he or she will be able to receive a charitable tax receipt from the Rick Hansen Man in Motion Foundation.

"We'd like to raise $5,000 at least, but don't have anything to measure it by," Roper said. "The more we raise, the better."

Fifty per cent of the proceeds will go towards spinal cord injuries in Yellowknife.

The rest of the money will go to the Man in Motion Foundation as a way to improve the lives of those with spinal cord injuries.