Twenty-five years after he launched his cross-country Man in Motion tour, Rick Hansen was back at Cape Spear, Newfoundland, on Wednesday to do it all over again.

But this time, a few thousand friends are helping out.

Hansen arrived at the Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site -- the easternmost point in Canada -- near St. John's to kick off a re-do of his famed 12,000-kilometre, nine-month journey across Canada in a wheelchair.

The original trek raised millions for spinal cord injury research. The anniversary relay is meant to raise awareness of other disabilities while giving other "difference makers" a chance to put their big ideas into motion.

About 7,000 people will run, bike, walk or wheel in sequence through 600 communities, following a route that will end in Vancouver on May 22, 2012.

"It's not one man in motion, it's not one guy going across the country on his own. It's 7,000 people representing millions of Canadians and their shared values for a health and inclusive world," Hansen told CTV News.

The first runner will be Jacob Manning, a 13-year-old with type-1 diabetes. Hansen said he admires how Manning doesn't allow his diabetes to dampen his outlook on life.

"He's living life large and he's going out there and he's making a difference," said Hansen.

"If Rick can do it I can do it. And if I can do it others can do it," added Manning.

Organizers asked Canadians to apply by describing what they're doing to make Canada a better place. The applications didn't disappoint, said Hansen. Some described people stepping up to raise money for juvenile diabetes or cancer research. Others described those working as volunteer coaches in their local communities.

"The stories are just so amazing, so inspirational" said Hansen.

Each participant in the relay will hand off to the next one a medal struck by the Royal Canadian Mint in Hansen's honour.

The relay will cover between 40 to 80 kilometres a day, with each participant averaging 250 metres.

With a report from CTV's Atlantic Bureau Chief Todd Battis