Pedal power drives passion for Polio fundraising across the Nullarbor

Article by PDG Bob Aitken - Rotary End Polio Now Coordinator

Tasmanian Rotarians Phil and Joyce Ogden are about to mount their tandem bicycle and stage an epic fundraiser to support Rotary’s END POLIO NOW campaign.

With thirty years of tandem cycling behind them, they plan to leave Perth in mid-May and ride the 2,750 km to Adelaide to support Rotary’s premier world project – with the support of their South Launceston Rotary Club.

They have been Rotarians for over ten years and have been passionate supporters and donors since first hearing of the END POLIO NOW campaign.

A retired anaesthetist, Phil has witnessed first-hand the terrible legacy of the Polio epidemic of the fifties and the ongoing threat to children of the world until the Rotary inspired campaign worked its magic over the last 30 plus years.

Delivering a message to all Rotarians, the couple said “We feel that the enormous effort which has gone into turning the tide of the disease will be lost if pressure and fund raising are not maintained until the disease is totally eradicated.
If we take our collective eyes off the ball, the disease will re-establish. So, we are still committed to making our personal donations every year but felt we might harness another of our passions, cycling, to push things along – once again with the assistance of Rotary.”

Joyce and Phil have enjoyed many ‘tandem adventures’ together covering more than 100,000 kms by way of unsupported crossings of the European Alps, the Pyrenees and the Rockies – in addition to organised long-distance rides with Audax, culminating in a 600km ride over 36 hours!

Tasmanian DG Heather Chong (District 9830) heaps praise on the dedicated Rotarians, describing them as ‘adventurous philanthropists'.

PLANNING

The Ogdens will plan and fund the entire trip with support from their Rotary Club of South Launceston and District leaders.

The window for riding the Nullarbor is relatively short as the prevailing wind and temperature have to be favourable, making autumn and spring the only realistic options.

Phil and Joyce would like to use the ride to publicise the urgent need to complete the eradication of Polio and will be happy to address Rotary Clubs in Tasmania and, en route, in Perth, Kalgoorlie and Adelaide. However, time will be limited in each destination and bookings can be made once final dates are known.

Logistics for the ride will be challenging with camping and motels (where available) the only accommodation options on the Nullarbor.

There are no shops across the 1,200 kms of the Nullarbor and water is only available at Roadhouses along the way. Dehydrated food will have to be mailed ahead and the Ogdens will have to carry food for a week and water for two days at a time.

A tandem cycle carries two riders but only has the luggage capacity of a single bike so the volume of extra provisions will be difficult to accommodate. However, weight is less of an issue as Google Maps describes the entire route as ‘mainly flat’.

DONATIONS

Every dollar donated to End Polio Now will be matched with $2 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Details of the special fund raising arrangements will be announced as soon as details are in place.

Please utilise the following link for all donations; https://raise.rotary.org/Phil-Ogden/fundraiser

CONTACTS

PDG Marion Cooper of the Rotary Club of Sandy Bay is the District 9830 contact – yaringacoops@bigpond.com ; telephone 0417 371 726.

EXCITING TIMES

This latest promotional masterstroke by Phil and Joyce Ogden highlights the increasing interest in the Polio campaign in recent times.

Ken Hutt of the Rotary Club of Berry in NSW plans to jump off Mt Everest in his END POLIO NOW paraglider in the near future; and South Australia’s Outback Ute relay, Ride the Trains for Polio in several capital cities, and even a Pumpkin growing competition for Polio in the deep south of New Zealand have drawn attention back to the need to focus on fund raising to ensure END POLIO NOW really does happen.

Please give generously to support these amazing people – and ultimately the children of the world!