Decorated former Paralympian and Canada’s Walk of Fame Inductee Rick Hansen to present Danielle Campo with her award during a special Celebration event on November 20 at Toronto’s Liberty Grand
Media Note: Download high-resolution images of Dr. Hayden and Danielle Campo
Toronto, ON (November 1, 2024) Following the excitement of this summer’s Olympics and Paralympics and in advance of the upcoming Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin, Canada’s Walk of Fame is honouring two of the nation’s achievers with special recognitions: Dr. Frank J. Hayden, the visionary whose groundbreaking research ignited the Special Olympics movement, will be inducted into the Walk of Fame, while three-time Paralympic gold medalist and disability rights advocate Danielle Campo will receive the 2024 National Hero Honour.
Beloved former Paralympian and 2007 Walk of Fame inductee Rick Hansen, best known as the “Man In Motion” for his 40,000km journey around the world in his wheelchair, will present the National Hero Honour to Campo at a special Canada’s Walk of Fame Celebration on Wednesday, November 20, at Toronto’s Liberty Grand.
“This is a special year to be able to celebrate two remarkable Canadian achievers in the world of sport, and fitting to honour them both in this 2024 Olympic year,” said Jeffrey Latimer, CEO of Canada’s Walk of Fame. “Dr. Hayden sparked a global movement that transformed sports for individuals with intellectual disabilities through the Special Olympics, while Danielle Campo inspired generations with her record-breaking performances and multiple medals during her Paralympic years. As tireless advocates and champions for individuals with disabilities, their legacies have shaped the world of sport in Canada – and beyond – for the better.”
2024 Inductee Dr. Frank J. Hayden
Dr. Frank J. Hayden is a pioneering researcher whose work sparked the global Special Olympics movement. In the early 1960s at the University of Toronto, Dr. Hayden’s research demonstrated the positive impact of sports on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. His work caught the attention of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, resulting in the inaugural Special Olympics Games in Chicago in 1968. Dr. Hayden then played a pivotal role in both the Canadian and global expansion of the movement, helping to establish 50 additional Special Olympics organizations around the world.
Today, Special Olympics empowers nearly four million athletes across 177 countries, with more than 42,000 participating athletes in Canada. Dr. Hayden’s contributions have been widely celebrated, including his induction into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, the establishment of the Frank J. Hayden Chair in Sport and Social Impact at Western University, and his designation as a Companion of the Order of Canada in 2022.
2024 National Hero: Danielle Campo
Danielle Campo is a celebrated Canadian Paralympic swimmer and inspirational speaker. Diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) at age two, she became a three-time Paralympic gold medalist, setting eight world records and earning 7 medals at the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.
Beyond athletics, Campo has served on various boards, notably as a national ambassador for Muscular Dystrophy Canada for over 15 years, where she helped raise over $5 million for neuromuscular disease research. Currently, she is the Mental Health Lead at the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, promoting Mental Health and Wellness for all students.
Her accolades include the Order of Ontario, the Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals, and the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award. Campo was the youngest recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Law. She continues to inspire through her advocacy, public speaking, and her memoir, Resurrections: My Will to Survive is Olympian. Recently, she won first place at Speaker Slam, North America’s largest inspirational speaking competition, for her powerful speech on perseverance and resilience.
