Cyclists raise nearly $3 million
in Miles to End Polio ride
The fight to eradicate polio got a major financial bo
ost from the annual Miles to End Polio bike ride
that tookplace 21 November in Arizona, USA.
Rotary General Secretary John Hewko and a
team of eight RI staff members helped raise
$2.9 million. The Bill & Melinda Gates Found-
ation will match the funds 2-to-1, bringing the
total contribution to PolioPlus to nearly $9
million.
This is the fourth year in a row that Hewko
has biked in the 104-mile (167 km) El Tour
de Tucson ride, one of the country’s top
cycling events.
More than 100 Rotary members from
Arizona and around the world hit the
pavement with the Evanston team.
The RI staff riders have been training
together since September. “In the be-
ginning, riding 104 miles seemed im-
possible,” says Jean Stanula, Rotary’s
Global Events supervisor. “But we
came together early Saturday mornings and
rode 20, 40, 60, and 80 miles. After a while,
it felt like we could do anything.”
Contributions of District Designated Funds
(DDFs) were a big part in this year's fund-
raising effort, with more than $1.4 million
collected. Districts can continue to donate
DDFs to support the fundraiser through 30
November. President-elect John Germ will
visit the district that donates the most DDFs,
and the top five contributing districts will be
recognized onstage at the 2016 Rotary Con-
vention in Seoul.
Rotary members have taken part in the ride
since 2009, when the End Polio Now cam-
paign was designated an official beneficiary
of the race, allowing Rotary cyclists to gather
pledges for the campaign. In the first year, 27
cyclists raised $35,000. The number has
grown exponentially ever since.
Download the Miles to End Polio DDF contri-
bution form
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