THE POWER OF COMMUNITY

In 1999, longtime John Ryan set out on an 8,688 kilometre journey across Canada in an effort to raise critical funds for spinal cord regeneration research. This September, John is celebrating the 25th anniversary of completing his transformational cross-country Regeneration Tour; raising over $1.2 million for spinal cord regeneration research in 1999. Since then, funds raised have reached a total of $6 million, an incredible 25-year legacy.

“I have always been moved and inspired by people who have overcome personal hardships and setbacks to go on to set and achieve personal goals,” described John in 1999 of his impetus for the tour. “Prior to my injury I had always viewed Terry Fox and Rick Hansen as two of Canada’s greatest heroes – a view which has been significantly magnified since my accident.”

Departing on his three-wheel Freedom Ryder handcycle from Cape Spear, Newfoundland on May 1, 1999, John Ryan’s journey spanned 8,688 kilometers and finished in his local town of Whistler, British Columbia on September 11, 1999. “It is certainly one thing to say you are going to do it but a whole different story to actually do it,” described longtime friend Trevor Linden of the effort. “The commitment John showed was truly remarkable.”

In reflecting on this momentous undertaking, what stands out for John personally is not the physical and mental challenge, or the snowstorms in Newfoundland, lightning storms in Northern Ontario, head winds gusting up to 50 km/h on the Prairies and heat waves across the country. What truly left an impression was the overwhelming sense of community felt throughout every stage of his journey.

Long before the internet was in our pockets, thousands of kilometers away in St. John’s, Newfoundland, a group of realtors John had never met before heard about his plans and came together to set up a Regeneration Tour Committee in support of the kickoff of this monumental journey across the country. This sentiment of camaraderie, generosity, togetherness, and hope was echoed in the hundreds of towns and cities John passed through, where residents gathered rain or shine to support the momentum of such a powerful national pursuit.

From town to town, city to city, and province to province, the community support of the Regeneration Tour was staggering. John would spend several hours each day speaking to the media, students, and members of the public. An educational complement to the tour was also designed to allow anyone to follow the tour online. “At any given time the tour will be accessible, especially to school kids following it in class,” said John in a 1999 interview with Pique Newsmagazine. “It will also make donations easier because you can donate right on the Internet.”

Upon his return to Whistler in September of 1999, nearly 7,000 residents gathered in the Village to celebrate his homecoming. “This type of collective momentum and shared energy reminds us what is possible when we come together as a community, whether that be at the local, regional or national level,” reflects John 25 years later. “When I set out on this tour, my definition of success was to touch or change one person’s life. I never could have imagined how many lives would be impacted through the sheer power of community.”