By Eric Rosales
NewsLeader Contributor
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EUPHEMIA REDDEN/NEWSLEADER |
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Paul Tubbe is the ambassador for Sunday's Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion event. |
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While Paul Tubbe is the official ambassador for the Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion Day event in Burnaby this weekend, it's probably more appropriate to call him an ambassador of life.
Always ready to smile, always ready to joke, the energetic businessman keeps you so engaged and entertained that you forget that he's in a wheelchair.
And that's just the way he prefers it.
"When you have fun and enjoy life, it's only at the end of the day that you realize that 'hey, that guy Paul is in a wheelchair'," said Tubbe, who took his motorized wheelchair through the muddy grass at Central Park, his own version of off-roading. "And at the end of the day, we can celebrate and say that this is a pretty good life, and our hopes and dreams are a positive thing."
The purpose of the June 13 event, which runs nationwide in more than 150 communities, is to help improve the quality of life of people living with spinal cord injuries. The Wheels in Motion Day encourages Canadians of all ages and all abilities to come out and run, walk, wheel bike or skate in communities across the country.
But Tubbe insists that it's much more than just that.
"The whole idea is to bring people in the community to a community, a level where people with different abilities can interact. Where everyone works together to realize his or her dreams," he said. "Even with all of our differences, we're all the same, and in the end, we're all finding a way to do what we do."
As it's only the second year for the Wheels in Motion event and the first in Burnaby, Tubbe envisions the potential of something very special.
"The first thing we need to do is build community, and we're starting to do that, but we're in it for the long run," he said. "But I would love for this to turn into an event where entire families come out, have a great big picnic and it's just another summer event where everyone has some fun."
An eternal optimist, it was not long ago when Tubbe was in his own dark spot that he had to work out of.
A soccer player and a professional modern dancer, he lost the use of his legs in a motorcycle accident at the age of 23.
"That took the wind out of my sails for four years," recalled Tubbe, who says that he was good at denial and didn't want to think about how he was going to deal with his life. "Finally, I just said that I was going to make the best of my life. I was not going to be someone trying to live up to someone else's standards, but I was going to set my own dreams and go for it."
Among the changes he made was taking the big leap forward in his personal dating life.
"I didn't ask those gorgeous upright women out, because I thought they wouldn't want to go out with me, but now I don't care," he said. "I can be shy or I can go and ask - life was too short."
Tubbe hopes that there is no shyness for anyone to come out to the event and enjoy the day.
"Everyone is welcome, every ability has a place in this event. And I hope first and foremost that people will take good memories of being with others from their community. We have no idea what we can offer people until we've already given the gift," said Tubbe, that gift being giving of ourselves.
"If I can make a difference for one of those people in a year, I'm real happy. Twice in a year, I'm blessed. Three times ... yeah baby!"
The Burnaby Wheels in Motion will begin at Swangard Stadium and move into the trails in Central Park. Among the festivities include awards handed out to several organizations recognized for their outstanding contribution to accessibility and livability.
Rick Hansen will be in Williams Lake for Wheels in Motion, but will make an appearance via video conferencing.
"If you come out, I hope you have fun," Tubbe said. "If you don't come, I hope you have fun."
Paul Tubbe, ever the ambassador of life.
