World traveler and wheelchair athlete, Hossein Nik Nikzaban, has wheeled through 31 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, a distance of more than 60 thousand kilometres. He started his journey as an international athlete from Iran in 1986 and ended it in Canada in 1995. Throughout his journey he has received numerous awards, medals and certificates for his astounishing accomplishments. Having traveled the world Hossein has witnessed the frightful conditions for persons with disabilities including children in certain countries. After traveling to Canada, Nik saw how far ahead Canada was compared to other countries and chose Canada as a place where he could help make a difference for the less fortunate people with disability in other countries by continuing his motivational work. Currently Nik lives with his wife Firouzeh, also a paraplegic, and his four sons in Vancouver, BC.
Born in Tehran, Iran in December 1957, Nik became a polio victim at age three and a half. He survived but was left without the use of his lower limbs. At eight years of age, during a three year stay in a Tehran hospital for children with disabilities, Nik came to terms with his disability and began to reach out to comfort and aid other younger children with a disability. This has been his mission since then. At age 18, Nik worked as a security in a Tehran center for the disabled. In pursuit of his philosophy of SELF BELIEF, Nik organized a group of young men with the same disability as his into a basketball team. With his pushing and urging the team succeeded in attaining a bronze medal in their first competitive foray. This was Nik’s very first success, which inspired and motivated him to chase greater success and he made it his goal to travel the world and promote his philosophy of ‘Self Belief’ and reach out to help people with disability to become the best versions of themselves.
In the summer of 1995, Nik crossed Canada from Montreal to North Vancouver in 74 days. Nik wheeled his way into Nanaimo on the first leg of his 3,500 kilometre tour of British Columbia. The polio victim made the trek to raise awareness for people with disabilities in BC and raise funds for Pro Endis World Society, which he had formed himself as well. In the spring of 1999, Nik wheeled 500km from Victoria to Port Hardy. In April of 2000 Nik established a Guinness World Record for distance traveled by wheelchair in 24 hours.
“The will power to accomplish something is there, and the physical disability does not mean impotence and powerless.”
“We shall not become hopeless or give in and surrender because life is full of grief and pain, and no one should give in to despair.”
“Physical health by itself is not enough, the will to truly live is more important.”
