"I wanted to proclaim the abilities of all persons," says Richard. "I wanted to tell people that their attitude is all-important. Personally, I feel that until we are enlightened, we are all disabled in some way, since we’re not using our full potential."

Richard was 20 years old when he experienced a health crisis, later diagnosed as multiple sclerosis. devastated by the news and started a search or ways to take charge of his health. He stopped smoking, became a vegetarian and practiced yoga. But he says the best decision he made, the one that impacted his life the most, was to learn the Transcendental Meditation technique.

"Within weeks my health improved and I no longer had any MS attacks," says Richard. "But the most significant thing that happened was that my attitude changed."

Richard knew he wanted more from life. He went to Queen's University to study Maharishi’s course on the Science of Creative Intelligence. It was there he made the decision to become a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation technique. He achieved this goal in 1973, after a three-month stay in La Antilla, Spain. By 1979, he had completed the TM-Sidhi program. "I used to feel this oppressive weight pushing me down because of the MS," he says. "With the Yogic Flying technique, that whole trend was reversed and it became easy to move again."

In 1981, the International Year of Disabled Persons, Richard set off on a 5,000-mile cycling tour across Canada. He rode a three-wheeled bike, to compensate for his less-than-perfect balance. It was a grand success. His health flourished and the publicity was fabulous. "My goal was not so much to raise money, but to raise awareness—that people with disabilities can be active and live full lives."

Inspired by this success, he launched a world tour in September of 1983. "It was unheard of that a person with MS would take on such a challenge," Richard remembers. "Even when I called various MS societies around the world to let them know I was coming, they didn't believe me."

Richard began by cycling across North America and Europe, then pressed on through India and the rest of Asia.

In August of 1986, he returned to a hero’s welcome in Ottawa, the capital city of Canada. It had taken nearly three years to complete his 25,000-mile "Cycle of Celebration." At first Richard thought he might like to live a more quiet life. But it wasn’t long before he was running a Transcendental Meditation program center and teaching the TM technique again.

Today Richard manages his health with the support of Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health programs. He gives lectures on "wellness" to people with MS and promotes the TM technique. As a spokesperson for the MS society, he continues to do cycling tours, always trying to uplift people who share his physical challenge. Jim Watson, the Mayor of Ottawa, recently described Richard as one of "Ottawa’s favorite sons."

Richard’s mission continues. "My whole point is to encourage others with MS to stay as active as they can, within their own potential. I believe absolutely that life is full of infinite possibilities, and that we are all coming into an Age of Enlightenment."

Donna Hiscott is Director of the Consumer Right to Know Campaign, a group working to ban genetically-engineered foods in Canada

Would you like to print this article? Click here for printer formatted text.