Support Gary Bren's Ride to End Polio 2022. The ride is on November 19. The deadline to donate is the end of November. Click here to donate. If you help Gary meet his goal of $30,000, through matches that will be $150,000 towards Polio Plus!
37 years ago Rotary International started the Polio Plus program, whose goal was to eradicate Polio from the face of the earth. We’re down to two endemic countries, but as the recent case in New York reminds us, the battle is not over until it’s completely won.
One of the biggest problems we’re facing right now is “Polio fatigue.” Rotarians have been hearing about Polio Plus for decades and currently only 1 Rotarian in 10 is donating to Polio Plus. This is creating a funding shortfall at the most critical moment in the battle. This last little bit is the hardest part of the fight.
Gary Bren wants to remind us all how important our engagement in this fight is. He’s going to be riding 102.6 miles in the Ride to End Polio on November 19th.
His goal is to raise $30,000 for Polio Plus…but the fundraising doesn’t stop there. Our Rotary District will match dollar for dollar up to the first $20,000. The funds are then matched two for one by The Gates Foundation. That means that if you donate to support this ride, your funds will be matched as much as three for one. If you help Gary meet his goal of $30,000, through matches that will be $150,000 towards Polio Plus.
The Ride to End Polio is part of the Tour De Tucson, which is celebrating it’s 39th year on November 19th. Rotary got involved in 2009 and since then Rotarians have raised over $18,000,000—$53,000,000 when the Gates Match is added in—for Polio Plus.
The course for 102 mile ride covers a good portion of the Tucson Metro area, with scenery varying from Downtown to the aircraft boneyard to desert and Saguaro cactus. Gary will be live streaming his ride, so you’ll be able to virtually come along with him and see the sights. He finished the ride in 6 hours and 30 minutes last year and his goal is to finish under six hours this year.
You can make a donation to support Gary at his Raise For Rotary page. Donations made through Raise for Rotary will be credited to your Foundation giving and added to your club’s total donations.
37 years ago Rotary made a promise to the children of the world. In those 37 years we have:
- Reduced cases from 400,000 to 25
- Eradicated polio from 123 endemic countries
- Helped vaccinate 3.5 billion children
- Prevented 18 million cases of paralysis and hundreds of thousands of deaths.
Please consider supporting this ride to help Rotary make good on it’s promise to finish this battle.