Ride to End Polio raises $730,000
El Tour de Tucson
For the past five years, Rotary members around Tucson, Arizona, USA, have bicycled as many as 111 miles in a day to raise money for polio eradication. This year’s team of 70 cyclists and their supporters raised $730,000 in the Ride to End Polio, which, after matched two-to-one by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will make $2.1 million available for polio eradication.
“With every penny going to end polio, we’ve immunized an awful lot of kids against this horrible disease,” says Gary Hirsch, a member of the Rotary Club of Tucson and a ride organizer.
The Ride to End Polio is part of the annual El Tour de Tucson bike event. Contribute now
Another rider was from District 9685
Bruce Nicholls from the Norwest Sunrise Club was one of the entrants in the El Tour de Tucson Ride to End Polio. Riding a bicycle over 180km through the desert in the rain with temperatures ranging from 3 to 6 degrees celsius is a serious challenge, even for a Hills boy!
However Bruce raised about $2,000 for End Polio Now and says it’s not too late for Rotarians and Rotary Clubs to recognise his effort and sponsor the ride. See how to contribute He may not catch up to RI General Secretary, John Hewko, who raised over $550,000 in the same ride, but Bruce is keen to take advantage of the Gates Challenge which sees each dollar contributed by Rotary tripled.
However Bruce raised about $2,000 for End Polio Now and says it’s not too late for Rotarians and Rotary Clubs to recognise his effort and sponsor the ride. See how to contribute He may not catch up to RI General Secretary, John Hewko, who raised over $550,000 in the same ride, but Bruce is keen to take advantage of the Gates Challenge which sees each dollar contributed by Rotary tripled.
Bruce reported, “It was a particularly hard ride due to the weather which was heavy rain nearly all day (about five hours, and light to medium for a several more with the sun coming out about an hour before we finished. This was the first time in 31 years that the ride was run in the rain ... and a number of riders suffered from hypothermia and others just pulled out before the end. On a sad note, one male rider from Tucson was killed by a vehicle towards the end of the route.”
One-half of his total fundraising was donated by his old District 9550 and a quarter from his Club (Norwest Sunrise). There is still time for District 9685 to get behind Bruce on this effort and donate to End Polio Now while the Gates Foundation match is still available.
So why not support Bruce and End Polio Now? Send contributions to The Rotary Fundation (click here to see how) and make a note that you are sponsoring Bruce. And if you would like to hear his story, Bruce is happy to be guest speaker at clubs - especially generous ones!
So why not support Bruce and End Polio Now? Send contributions to The Rotary Fundation (click here to see how) and make a note that you are sponsoring Bruce. And if you would like to hear his story, Bruce is happy to be guest speaker at clubs - especially generous ones!