Rick Hansen, Canadian athlete paralyzed from waist-down, signs agreement with Hebrew University to study spinal cord injuries and treatments.
A Canadian advocate for spinal cord injury research is set to sign an agreement with a Jerusalem-based university in order to research spinal cord injuries and treatments.
The Montreal Gazette reported that Rick Hansen, a Canadian athlete who was paralyzed from the waist-down at age 15, recently arrived in Israel to sign an agreement between the Vancouver-based Rick Hansen Institute and the Institute for Medical Research Israel Canada at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
"This agreement will lead to innovative approaches that improve outcomes for people with spinal cord injuries," said Rami Kleinmann, National Director of Canadian Friends of Hebrew University (CFHU).
"IMRIC is bringing together the best minds in science, across disciplines and across countries, to create new approaches to meet the great medical challenges of the day."
Hansen’s visit to Israel is part of one of four international trips the athlete will take to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his Man in Motion Tour.
In the 1985, Hansen wheeled himself more than 40,000 kilometers (24,855 miles) through 34 countries. In doing so, he raised $26 million for spinal cord injury research, as well as drew positive attention to the extraordinary abilities of those considered disabled.
