About $25 million will be donated by the province toward spinal cord injury research. The announcement came from Premier Gordon Campbell on Sunday. It was the last day of the Winter Paralympic Games and the 25th anniversary of Rick Hansen's Man in Motion world tour when the announcement was made. Campbell said, "Throughout the Games, athletes with physical disabilities showed the world what they can do, and this $25 million will help others with disabilities succeed against the odds."

Over the next few years Ottawa will provide another $13.5 million.

The money will go toward the Rick Hansen Institute that intended to formalize research centres. It would also make an effort to connect people from around the world and help them make contributions toward spinal cord research and care. A goal of raising $200 million for institute resources and other innovations that support the cause has been set by Hansen.

Hansen said, "There has been so much progress in this field since I embarked on my Man in Motion world tour 25 years ago. I can't think of a better way to celebrate our successes and prepare for the future."