In the following pages you will find a summary of why we are doing the Baja 1000 and how you can help. Hopefully, this narrative will give you the information you require to invest in the project. We are racing the Baja 1000 to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the Rick Hansen Man in Motion World Tour. Rick is from our community and it is important that he knows that we still support him.

Over the Christmas break 2010 I was watching a movie with my wife called "Dust to Glory" which is a documentary on the Baja 1000. The movie tells the story about the history of the Baja 100 as well as some of the race legends. In addition to following some racers and interviewing them to understand why they race the Baja 1000, one of the most grueling offroad races in the world with very little prize money, the videographers strive to capture the magic of Baja, the essence of what is Baja. Needless to say, not only is the movie interesting and informative, but captivating and capturing as well.

I have never raced any motor vehicle competitively, but after watching this movie I turned to my wife and told her I was going to race the Baja. Obviously, she was less then impressed as I had just broken my femur snowmobiling a few weeks before.  My friend Dennis Beebe has often said, “It is not about the disability, it is about the possibilities.”  Dennis is also a paraplegic that gets out there and has does what he wants to do.

Some people wonder why I would want to do such a thing, and the answer is simply, because I can. I am a paraplegic that does pretty much anything I can think of that I will enjoy or find challenging.

I lead a full life. The most important thing to me is my family. I have a very supportive wife, four really great children, three girls and a boy, and a very close immediate family including my parents, three brothers and their wives, grand parents, and inlaws. My hobbies include, hunting (obsessed), fishing (avid), fourwheeling (ATV’s, UTV’s, Trucks), snowmobiling, jet boating (sold my boat two years ago, great stories), farming/ranching, welding and farbricating, woodwork, camping, traveling, and of course all of the normal stuff like, reading.Now, I will start racing.

I work as a Chartered Accountant which keeps me quite busy and am fortunate enough to work with some really understanding people who can tolerate the things I do and the stories I tell.

I was not always paralyzed. After the accident there was some uncertainty in my future, I graduated high school with honours, but had no idea what I could do with my life. My daughter Cassidy was just three months old. When I was in the rehabilitation centre GF Strong, I had a chance to meet Rick Hansen and I didn't want the time to end. As I talked to him he was able to relay some of his accomplishments to me and it gave me reassurance that I too could be successful in my life after spinal cord injury.

In the early days of my injury I got my license back (for hand controls) within three months of my injury, which is quite quick from my understanding. I then met with a Vocational Rehab counselor and through testing found out that I was interested in security (could not see myself as RCMP in a wheelchair), medicine (it takes to long to become a doctor), law (seven years schooling plus one year articling was too long), and accounting (four years of school and three years articling). Honestly, I had no idea what an accountant did. After some research, I told my Vocational Rehab Counselor that I was going to be a Chartered Accountant, I still remember his jaw dropped. My next question was, how? The answer of course was to go to university.

I recall the first few courses I took, one of them was a computing course where the teacher said that if you could not type forty or fifty words per minute, you would not succeed. Not only could I not type, I didn’t know how to turn the computer on! They showed me in the first class, but in the next class I was using a different computer and the on/off switch was not in the same spot, so I had to ask again. I got an A+ in that course.

The most uncomfortable I have ever felt in my new life with disability, actually just in life, was in a geography class where I had to do a 15 minute presentation on a research project. I chose the WAC Bennet Dam and this was my first presentation from a wheelchair. The research and writing was not a problem, but when I got up in the front of the class, not only did I have the normal feelings of embarrassment, but there was a lot of doubt in my mind about how people were perceiving me and how I thought they were. Quite literally I had to force myself through that presentation, it really was the tipping point for me. The point in my life where I could have stayed at home and sheltered myself from the world or taken my life back. I really had thoughts of wheeling off and quitting school, I had that much doubt about myself in a wheelchair and was worried about what people thought of me.

The only reason I am mentioning any of this is because I imagine there are people out there who have felt the same, and maybe didn’t have the strength to carry on, or perhaps the support network to keep pushing them on.

I did continue on with school, was one of the founding members of a business club in university that won a national award, did some big fundraisers with that business club, and graduated with honours. Not bad for a guy in a wheelchair that used to be a millwright.

Rick Hansen is his own brand, he knows no boundaries. A small town Williams Lake boy that grew into a global champion of disability. Rick has touched so many lives in so many ways. I would imagine there may have been a few detractors when Rick first came up with his idea for the Man in Motion, but he did it, persevered through his sheer will power and determination and as a result of his willingness to effect change, we all have benefitted disabled and able bodied.

After telling my wife what I was going to do, I wondered why I really wanted to do the race, which required some serious introspection. But before I let you know about this I need to remind myself why I was in such a quandary.

In November 2010 I went fishing with a guy named Rick Hansen. Rick is many things, husband, father, brother (to one of my good friends), uncle (to my sister in law), accomplished athlete, spokesman, brand, and Canadian Ambassador. The Rick Hansen I know is THE Man in Motion. Rick has done a lot for disabled people the world over. The important thing to remember is the impact he has had cannot be measured, but is significant. Rick is like a butterfly. When a butterfly flaps it wings, lives are changed.

Needless to say, Rick is someone I really admire and look up to. We went fishing on November 20^th, which by all accounts is not a really special day for a Saturday, except on this Saturday Rick took the time to take me, my wife Cara, father-in-law, and brother-in-law along with his long time friend Fred Helmer for a day of sturgeon fishing. The Fraser River is arguably the best White Sturgeon fishing place on our planet, for a day of intense fishing along with an education that only people like Rick and Fred can give. Rick and Fred have spent many years fishing, studying, and protecting the White Sturgeon.

I knew weeks before that Rick had a very busy schedule leading up to this fishing trip, which by the way, Rick would not let us pay for. Instead, Rick suggested we adopt a couple of White Sturgeon, which we did. The week we went fishing Rick was in Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto. After being gone all week long, away from his family, and arriving home late Friday night, one of the first things he did was meet with us on a Saturday morning, the week after fishing he was off to Israel, one day at home. This man exemplifies Service Above Self. Rick explained that the next two years of his life were booked out, as it is the 25^th anniversary of the Man in Motion World Tour in which he has set a goal of raising $250 million for the Rick Hansen Foundation.

Back to the Baja 1000. I knew entering the Baja 1000 was a big deal and I wanted it to mean something, to capitalize on the opportunity, but for what? Well that did not take long. Talking it out with my wife and father-in-law, we had it. A fundraiser supporting the Man in Motion, the small town boy from Williams Lake BC that has done so much for so many.

 I decided that in honour of his 25^th anniversary and the fact that we are from the same hometown, that we should support him and as part of this support our target for fundraising for the Rick Hansen Foundation is $25,000, a thousand dollars for each year. This is a far cry from he is doing and has done, but we want to do it.

Interestingly, many people want to donate for the Baja and for Rick. Without even having a pledge sheet we have $6,000 plus dollars in pledges on the table. Not bad for another small town boy.

I really had pretty much no idea what I would race, or even what was legal when I made this decision. Enter Gilbert Rich of Spectra Power Sports Ltd. Gilbert has sold me some Polaris products (Ranger Crew, Browning Edition, Olympic unit) and various safety gear. Spectra is where I take my toys to be fixed; I really like the crew there.

I told Gilbert and Heino what I was thinking and instead of saying you are crazy, what are you thinking they said, sounds cool, how can we help. I said I need a machine, perhaps a RZR S 800, Gilbert immediately said, you have to check this out. I said. “What?” Gilbert said, “the new RZR 900 XP, its crazy.” I watched the video and agreed, perfect for what I am doing. 

There is a lot of distance between picking a machine, and being able to use the machine or owning it.

I never even considered another machine, I like the Polaris products, but really like the guys that sell it locally. I asked Heino and Gilbert if the machine could do it stock, they said no problem. I want to use a machine as stock as possible, with four modifications, a larger fuel cell, pre-air filter, light bar, and foam filled radial tires.

The machine has more then enough power, speed, and suspension. One thing I decided early on, finishing the race means winning the race to me. I do not need to beat anyone, I can cross dead last as long as I at least cross in the allotted time and in one piece, at least, with no broken skin, bones are optional. You finish the race, you win the race.

One of my friends jokingly asked me why I started with the Baja 1000 and not something harder. My attitude is go big or stay home. With that said, I have a list of equipment started:

• VHF Radios (three)
• Satellite phones (two)
• Light bar with lights
• Fuel cell
• Helmets with special breathing apparatus
• Helmet radios
• Four web cams (to video this action)
• Fuel to get to the race and back
• Tires
• Pre-air filtration system
• Mechanic
• Labour to modify the RZR
• Contingency fund to cover parts
• Stereo system
• And one more little thing:
  • The RZR 900 XP

I plan on finding sponsors for all of it, and with the Team, will.

Several of us have talked about a team name, things like Cariboo Racers, The Cowboys, or The Men in Motion have been talked about. I like this team name the most, These Guys." As likely will happen, most people will forget our team name, but some will tell the story about "These Guys".

• Heino Seibert Our "go-to" guy for anything technical.  He's the first member of the team.  Most surprising sign up, but someone I am really glad did voluntarily as I would have had to force him: My father-in-law, Keith Dufresne, great guy, MBA, RPF, shares DNA with my wife and kids, hard worker, reliable, dependable . Makes me happy he is in.

• Keith Dufresne

• Roger Patenaude  Very unexpected. He says are you serious about this and I said, "uh, yeah dude." Okay, I am going to be down there and will be on your team. Roger Patenaude, rancher, logger, really tough, and wait for it…. motor cycle racer for decades. Another solid guy to have on the team.

• Paul Marcottes I kind of pissed this guy off, why, because I forgot to tell him about it. Before I was an accountant, I was a Millwright and am really proud of this. My dad is a Millwright as are my three brothers. I had talked to Paul after I made this decision and forgot to tell him. I also kind of forgot that Paul is super into everything off road and loves racing. I have been friends with Paul for almost 20 years. Paul is a Millwright, Welder, Air Craft Maintenance Engineer, truck modifier, and all around great guy.

• Kevin Pigeon  A Prince George firefighter.  Kevin will be our medic.

• Riley Sager

• Steven Duerst - Our race technician.  He's the one who will be informing the rest of the team what we can and can't do during the race.

• Rick Seibert

• Derek Christianson

• Trevor Knill   

I am under no illusions and know this is going to be a challenging endeavor. I have had many challenges, identified them, thought them through, planned for them, and crushed them. We (several people on the team) have talked to people, and will talk to more, about the Baja and what it takes to succeed. In preparation for the race day we will train at home, watch past races, and pre-run most of this years Baja course. However, we know that nothing can prepare us for THE RACE, but I am confident that we have a team that is committed to finishing. My goal is to Ironman it, but I will not let my ego prevent the team from finishing. We finish, we win.

We are trying to get sponsors to help us with the cost of the race and some of the equipment. Right now PMT Chartered Accountants will help with some costs by cash sponsorship.  Scotiabank, Clusko Logging Enterprises Ltd., and Spectra Power Sports Ltd., have committed to be major sponsors and we have just got rolling. I am confident many other local businesses will become sponsors and pledge the race. 

I am a Rotarian, and the Rotary Club of Williams Lake Daybreak, has been very supportive and has allocated $1,000 to cover miscellaneous expenses and passed a motion that every member must pledge.

We will raise $25,000 for the Rick Hansen Foundation, $1,000 for each year since Rick’s Man in Motion tour. When we collect a pledge we will ask for a cheque to be made out to the Rick Hansen Foundation and the foundation will issue the receipts.

We want to make it attractive for people to donate to Rick, so we are giving them options. The options are two donate an amount out right and cash a cheque, to pledge an amount per mile, and a combination of the first two.

We have several objectives that we will measure our success against in this adventure:

1. Raise a minimum of $25,000 for the Rick Hansen Foundation
2. Finish the Baja 1000 in the allotted time, if we finish we win
3. Ensure the safety of our team
4. Have a really good time

What else can I say?

Most importantly, above all else I would like people to tell a story about These Guys who did the Baja 1000 without ever entering any other race, and oh yeah, the driver was in a wheel chair, a paraplegic. Perhaps, this might seem insignificant, but I am hoping other disabled people will hear this, people that might be having a problem with that first speech in the front of the class, and they will draw strength from the story, and finish it. You see I really would like to positively impact even one person and maybe in some small way help them start a better life, a life where they do the things they want to do, and don’t let themselves, their disability, or the people around them hold them back. I would really like to do in a small way, what Rick did for me.

The greatest compliment I have received from my friends, colleagues, and clients is, "we often forget you are in a wheelchair." I would like other disabled people to receive this as well.

This fundraiser to support Rick’s 25th anniversary Man in Motion World Tour is happening. I know the project will only be successful because of the commitment of These Guys on the team.