An edited version of the following article appeared in The Ottawa Citizen on Sunday, September 9, 2001

The message that will last a lifetime

Mike Nemesvary
'Round the World Challenge

Mike Nemesvary, a former champion freestyle skier, is attempting to become the first quadriplegic to drive around the world - a 40,000 kilometer trek to raise funds for spinal cord injury research and rehabilitation.

This week's article is written by Challenge volunteer, Ellyn Holzman.

I don't know how he did it. I have just spent the last week as a volunteer with the team in Vancouver and I am in awe of the heart and energy devoted by Mike Nemesvary to the project.

It all started Tuesday at the Peace Arch at the Canada-US border as I joined many others in welcoming Mike back to Canada. Mike's face light up and his shoulders lightened as he crossed into Canada.

At the Vancouver Art Gallery, Mike told some tales from his past 22 weeks of travel, reminding us all of how fortunate we are to live in such a wonderful country.

The audience was clearly moved as Mike talked of the Iranian children he met who sleep eight to a room on urine-stained mattresses in a rehabilitation centre. He said it was heart-wrenching for him to know that these kids had no hope for a future outside of the institution.

Then his thoughts turned to the two men he met at breakfast in India. Both were paraplegics and Mike assumed they had used public transportation to get to the restaurant for breakfast. But when they left, one of the men wheeled to his motorcycle, hopped on it and tossed his wheelchair in the sidecar attached to the bike. Knowing how difficult it is for an able-bodied person to maintain balance on a motorcycle Mike said it was amazing to watch this man drive off. The other man got into his car to drive away and it was only then that Mike realized he was driving a manual-transmission car without the use of his legs.

These men re-enforced for Mike how important it is to continue to work towards ensuing that all people with disabilities have access to the benefits of technology.

During all of the festivities, speeches, interviews I find myself amazed at how much energy and drive Mike continues to have. With the disappointing news that his truck was going to require some maintenance work, which would mean he would have to continue his engagements without the use of his "wheels". His truck is his independence. Each and every time he needs to be lifted in and out of the vehicle I am struck with the image of how dependent he is on others for the simplest of tasks. As an able bodied person we tend to think it is no different then carrying a child into the car. Well Mike is not a child, he is an adult like you and I who would like to maintain his dignity.

Each time he is lifted out of his wheelchair and into the support vehicle the movements causes unsuspecting muscle twitches, shifting of clothing and many stares from those watching.

One evening we joined those involved in a program called Bridging the Gap in a pick-up wheelchair hockey game. The program focuses on integrating people with disabilities with able- bodied individuals through sport. As I watched I realized the essence of the program was that sport created a level playing field. I had trouble distinguishing those that were disabled from those that were able-bodied and I began to understand how important driving is to Mike. The road is his playing field. When he is behind the wheel the barriers are hidden and he becomes the athlete he once was. Mike has always maintained that we can widen the doorways, design accessible curbs but what a disabled person really wants is to be treated as an equal.

Certainly the most emotional day was the visit to the G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre. It was here that Mike met a patient who 9 weeks ago had suffered a diving accident only to be left a complete quadriplegic. This 19-year-old was an avid snowboarder and sport enthusiast and observing him listening to Mike you knew he was inspired to know that he can resume a normal life.

Mike showed him that there is life post accident. As they talked Mike reminded him that although he was going to spend the rest of his life in a chair, life was worth living. Goals we had once set for ourselves may need to be re-aligned but a person living with a spinal cord injury can still live a full and rewarding life. Although the meeting was short the message will last a lifetime.

As we drive out of Vancouver and one step closer to home, Mike dreams about the day he will sleep in his own bed but he reminds us all that as close as he is to home there is still much work to be done to ensure that all persons living with a disability enjoy a level playing field.

To get involved or to donate to the ‘Round The World Challenge, please visit our web site at http://www.roundtheworldchallenge.com or contact the office at 613-274-7955.