The Rotary Club of Auckland South handed over a contribution of NZD $8,000 during the journey
AUCKLAND POLIO TRAIN EVENT
Article by PDG Jennie Herring, Co-chair of PAT 2025 — February 8, 2025
Whilst many readers will be aware of the Ride the Rails event that is held on the Sydney rail network in October, there is also an event across the Tasman to raise awareness of the need to end polio as well as raise funds. It’s called the Auckland PAT event.
Article by PDG Jennie Herring, Co-chair of PAT 2025
The 2024 Auckland Polio All Transit (PAT) event was held to coincide with World Polio Day last October with the riders from Districts 9910, 9920 and 9930 being sent off on their journey by the Auckland City Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson.
Participants from District 9930 had arrived in Auckland after boarding the Te Huia train from Hamilton at 6am before arriving at The Strand, Auckland, 2.5 hours later. Joining the riders on the train this year were the three District Governors, Jenn Wong (9910), Vidya Nand (9920) and Nick Dangerfield (9930) who were joined by over forty other Rotarians, Interactors and Rotary Youth Exchange students.
All forms of transport were used this year: trains, buses, ferries and taxis. It was truly an all-transit event. And thanks to a generous sponsorship package from Harcourts and Tazreet Dhatt, an End Polio Banner was trailed in the sky by a light aircraft.
It was a great day full of fellowship and fun, even if the train did, on one occasion, break down and one connection was missed. The Rotary Club of Papakura, in District 9920, provided liquid refreshments and sausages for lunch for the riders.
For PAT 2024, NZD $28,900.00 was raised for the eradication of polio, Rotary’s number one strategic priority. With the Gates Foundation 2:1 matching grant, the equivalent of a an additional NZD $57,800 would be added.
The video of the 2024 event can be viewed at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-11CdNj0MPk
Or go to the Youtube/rotaryoceania channel or TikTok Rotary Oceania
The event began in 2019 but then missed in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions, resuming in 2022. Organisers are already looking forward to 2026 when Pukekohe will be added back to the itinerary following two years of closure.
