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Quadriplegic heads off on 'odyssey of a lifetime' Wednesday 21 March 2001 - On a glorious spring day, near the steps of Parliament Hill, Ottawa's Mike Nemesvary set out on "the odyssey of a lifetime" that will take him to 16 countries over the next five months. At the stroke of noon yesterday, Mr. Nemesvary, a quadriplegic, drove away in a specially equipped Chevrolet Blazer on an expedition that is expected to encompass 40,000 kilometres and four continents. His goal is to raise awareness of the abilities of people with disabilities and to collect up to $10 million for spinal cord research and rehabilitation. Surrounded by family, friends and several hundred people who came to cheer him on, an emotional Mr. Nemesvary drove past the Centennial Flame to begin his long journey. However, he spun around his 1991 Blazer -- fitted with a global positioning system satellite-tracking unit, satellite phone and laptop computer with mounting dock and printer -- and returned to the Centre Block, where he was greeted by Prime Minister Jean Chretien. "Good luck, we're very proud of you," Mr. Chretien told Mr. Nemesvary in front of dozens of supporters. Mr. Nemesvary then presented Mr. Chretien with a leather jacket from one of the trek's numerous sponsors. Mr. Nemesvary will be accompanied on the trip by his longtime companion, Christine Gundlack, and a friend, George Swinimer. He hopes his journey will help to rid disabled people of the image that they're not up to such a challenge. "This is much more than a personal endeavour because I really believe in the cause," Mr. Nemesvary, a former World Cup champion freestyle skier who broke his neck in a 1985 trampoline accident, told a large crowd on Parliament Hill. "We're really trying to espouse the fact that people with disabilities can achieve great things." He is trying to become the first quadriplegic to drive around the world. "All I can say is that I'm going to give it my best shot, that's all I can do. "Whether I raise $1 or $10 million, at least I will have tried," he said. Francois Belisle, chief executive officer of the Canadian Paraplegic Association, said everyone is proud of Mr. Nemesvary's greatest challenge. "We have been inspired by Mike and in his relentless drive and determination to realize his dream to drive around the world," said Mr. Belisle. One of the Canadian Paraplegic Association's goals is to help the disabled achieve independence. The association will administer a trust fund of money raised by the challenge, he said. Mr. Nemesvary's parents, Marta and Les, were on hand to see their son's departure. "My greatest concern for Mike as he starts his trek is for his health," said Mrs. Nemesvary. She said it is difficult enough for able-bodied people to attempt a drive through different countries, but her son faces many more obstacles. She said living conditions in some of the countries are unlike what he is used to in Canada. "He will be helped by his friends on the trip, but it's still a lot of work for him. "But I'm happy for him and will be supporting him all along." She called her son a "stubborn" fellow and said he always follows through with a project if he puts his mind to it. Late yesterday afternoon, Mr. Nemesvary was greeted by several supporters outside of Hudson, Que., who held up a banner that read "Good Luck Mike, Have a Safe Trip," according to Ellyn Holzman, a friend who spoke to him by cellphone. People will be able to follow Mr. Nemesvary's progress by logging onto his Web site at: http://www.roundtheworldchallenge.org/ . Tony Lofaro The Ottawa Citizen Copyright 2001 CanWest Interactive, a CanWest company. All rights reserved janet paterson, an akinetic rigid subtype, albeit perky, parky PD: 54/41/37 CD: 54/44/43 TEL: 613 256 8340 EMAIL: [log in to unmask] "A New Voice" home page: http://www.geocities.com/janet313/ . "New Voice News" latest posts: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nvnNET/ . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn