MP Laurie Hawn does his weekly video blog from a wheelchair on Wednesday, May 22nd while taking part in the Spinal Cord Injury Chair-Leader Event. The challenge was for 26 Parliamentarians to spend a day in a wheelchair to better understand the challenges faced by folks with spinal cord injuries. MP Hawn is a co-chair of the event, and has accepted the challenge for the past 4 years.

The fundraising campaign is still on going, and contributions to support SCI can be made at http://sci.akaraisin.com/chairleadersHome

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26 Parliamentarians spent the day in a wheelchair

Ottawa, ON – Today, 26 Parliamentarians representing all political parties came together to participate in the 6^th annual Chair-Leaders Campaign  to raise awareness for people living with spinal cord injuries.

“It does wake me up to the fact that the places we think are barrier free are in fact not barrier free,” said Laurie Hawn, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre.  “Places like Parliament Hill you think would be, but it’s not.”

The total achievement of $56,194.00 was announced during the event, which marked the end of a national fundraising campaign for Spinal Cord Injury Canada that took place during the month of May.

“Fundraising is very important because we will never get enough money to advance the cause otherwise,” said Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, president of Spinal Cord Injury Canada.

A committee comprised of Laurie Hawn, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre, Peter Stoffer, Member of Parliament for Sackville – Eastern Shore, Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown and The Honourable Jim Munson, Senator, Ottawa-Rideau Canal challenged 26 Parliamentarians to spend a day in a wheelchair and live first-hand what accessibility really means.

About the campaign

The Chair-Leaders Campaign is an annual fundraising campaign to raise awareness about ability.

Every year, people across Canada get together to spend the day in a wheelchair and see first-hand what accessibility really means. But this year, it’s more than that. This year, we celebrate ability! 

About Spinal Cord Injury Canada

Spinal Cord Injury Canada assists people with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities in achieving independence, self-reliance and full community participation. Spinal Cord Injury Canada has been the lead community-based service provider to persons living with spinal cord

injury (SCI) in Canada since 1945. Together with its affiliated provinces, Spinal Cord Injury Canada (formerly known as The Canadian Paraplegic Association) provides services to over 20,000 members yearly.

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