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CAPE SPEAR, N.L. -- Rick Hansen remembers arriving in Canada 20 years ago doubting that his Man in Motion tour around the world would achieve its goals.

But that all changed at Cape Spear, where Hansen began the final stretch of the journey in his wheelchair to raise awareness and funding for research on spinal cord injuries.

Hansen, 48, told a ceremony in Cape Spear to mark the 20th anniversary of his journey on Thursday that before coming home, he had thought about quitting.

�I can honestly say that when I was wheeling up the eastern seaboard of the United States, I was feeling pretty dejected,� he said.

He was persuaded by his supporters to stick with it.

�When we came back here, I was just so overwhelmed and moved by the generosity of Canadians. The people responded like I had never imagined before.

�People here opened their hearts.�

Heading west in the middle of the winter to where his trip began in 1985 in Vancouver, Hansen said the reception he received motivated him to keep going.

�It was the energy and response of Newfoundlanders that gave me the courage to keep going and to believe that the dream was worthwhile,� said Hansen, who suffered a spinal cord injury in a car crash that paralyzed him from the waist down when he was 15.

In the 20 years since the Man in Motion tour, Hansen said progress has been made in allowing people with disabilities to contribute to society.

�There�s been an amazing progress,� he said. �People are having a chance to get out of their homes and be able to live a productive and effective life. They are able to contribute to our country.�

Hansen hoped to raise $10 million but after travelling through 33 countries by 1986, only $172,000 had been donated.

By the time Hansen completed his journey in Vancouver, more than $26 million had been raised.

Hansen�s more than 40,000-kilometre journey spanned 792 days, 467 of which were spent on the road, and passed through 34 countries.

Hansen now lives in Richmond, B.C., with his wife Amanda who accompanied him on the Man in Motion tour, and their three daughters.

He works as president and CEO of the Rick Hansen Foundation, which has raised more than $178 million.

Despite what has been achieved, Hansen said more can still be done to improve accessibility and in finding cures for more people with spinal cord injuries.

�This anniversary is also about believing that our best work is still in front of us,� he added. �It makes us realize that we still have another 20 years of hard work on the long journey to achieve those two big dreams.�

Another great man to remember on this day is Christopher Reeves.

Hats off to Rick Hansen and all others who have given so much.