El Tour de Tucson Unites Rotarians in the Ride to End Polio

Each November, cyclists from around the globe flock to Tucson, Arizona, to ride in the scenic streets of El Tour de Tucson. For Rotary International, this event is the organization’s largest fundraiser in the world, uniting Rotarians from the four corners of the Earth to raise funding to end Polio now. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matches all funds raised 2 to 1.

According to the Rotary International website, “Rotary is an international community that brings together leaders who step up to take on the world’s toughest challenges, locally and globally. The eradication of polio is one of our longest-standing and most significant efforts. Along with our partners, we have helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries. We have reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent worldwide, and we won’t stop until we end the disease for good.”

At present, Polio is only found in Pakistan and Afghanistan. But it must be totally eradicated. According to the Rotary International website, “If polio is not fully eradicated, we could see a global resurgence of the disease with as many as 200,000 new cases each year over the next 10 years, all over the world.” If you have ever lived through a Polio pandemic, you know you never want to be in another.

But guess what? You don’t have to ride in Tucson on Saturday, November 22 to make a difference. You, too, can join the Ride to End Polio right here at SaddleBrooke or SaddleBrooke Ranch. Local Rotarians and friends hop on bikes both indoors and outdoors to raise funds. You can even ride at home or at your neighborhood fitness center. Regardless of whether you’re cycling on the road or spinning on a stationary bike, every mile counts.

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So, cycling isn’t your thing? Make a difference through a donation. Just follow the QR Code to the Rotary International site raise.rotary.org, by the Rotary Foundation. You can also use this link: https://raise.rotary.org/Johnoszust/challenge. Since 2016, The Rotary Foundation has received the highest possible score from Charity Navigator –100 of 100 points. This is the ninth straight year the Foundation earned a four-star rating from the independent evaluator of charities across the U.S., a distinction only attained by 1 percent of charities.

John Oszust, of the Rotary Club of SaddleBrooke, is coordinating efforts at the Ranch and SaddleBrooke. Rotarians Max Knauss of the Ranch and Ed Treick of SaddleBrooke will be leading the pack as they ride around the communities. So, join the ride or donate. Be a part of history and make a difference!

Thanks to the generosity of people like you and Rotary’s efforts, polio is now only in two countries. But until polio is gone everywhere, polio remains a threat everywhere. Join the Rotary Club of SaddleBrooke to finish the job! Let’s ensure no child ever suffers from polio ever again.

For more information about Rotary, email Diane Demeroutis at rotarysbaz@gmail.com.