Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Friday, January 25, 2008

YELLOWKNIFE - The NWT's Rick Hansen fund has received far more applications for funding than it has money to disburse.

The fund, which provides money to those with disabilities to improve quality of life, has roughly $16,000 to give out, yet has received applications for funding totalling $120,000.

Rick Hansen, the Man in Motion, was in Yellowknife in June 2006 to promote a national registry for spinal cord injuries. With him is then premier Joe Handley. Hansen is president and CEO of the Rick Hansen Foundation, which is providing some funding in the NWT for people with mobility problems. NNSL file photo -

"The applications that we have are for dollars far beyond $16,000," said Cecily Hewitt, executive director for the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities.

The council called for applications from across the NWT in October 2007 and 15 people have applied for funding.

"We're taking our time and reviewing them very carefully and help to find other suggestions of places for people (to get funding) as well," she said.

The Rick Hansen Foundation is a national foundation, but has separate contribution agreements with provincial and territorial governments across Canada. The money goes to individuals with spinal cord injuries or diseases that affect the spinal cord, for items or services that would help with quality of life. In the NWT the money can also go to anyone who has movement problems, such as people with arthritis.

"There is a great need, there's no doubt about that," said Hewitt. "There's a great need in the territory for appliances and services (for people) with disabilities that has not yet been met."

Hewitt said the applications will be reviewed by a committee and assessed to meet as many needs and the most dire needs as possible.

Hewitt also said the council has been working with the territorial government for some time to get electric wheelchairs funded for those who have severe mobility problems.

"We're still trying to push for that," said Hewitt. "Right now it is not covered for people who have anything but the most serious of spinal cord injuries."