Dear Friends in Rotary
The subject of this letter is to bring awareness of the need to continue to raise funds for Polio eradication, too once and for all eradicate this dreadful decease of POLIO, from the face of the earth.
For that reason, I have decided to join a group of riders, like minded individuals, to draw awareness and to raise funds towards the Polio eradication, in the Ride “Le Tour De Tucson”, in Tucson Arizona on November 17, 2018.
As a youngster growing up in Germany I did month long bicycle rides to explore the countries around me. One of these rides took me from Rosenheim, Germany to Sicily, Italy and back. So, riding is in my blood to get on the bike and ride for fun and purpose.
A new bike, borrowed from my son, of course makes the ride more enjoyable and perhaps will help in the mountainous terrain of Arizona.
For the past 10 years, a road ride, called the “Le Tour de Tucson” (Arizona) has attracted bikers to ride for a purpose. Rotary has fielded a team of 15 – 20 riders each year to raise money to eradicate polio. Over the years these Rotary riders have raised (with a match from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) over $45 Million. Last year they raised over $10 Million. This kind of money provides enough health workers, training and vaccine to immunize around three-million children, building a robust fire-wall in over 25 at-risk countries. By denying the polio virus a human host, the virus will die, harmlessly, in the wild.
In 1988 Rotary, the CDC, WHO and UNESCO formed the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. That year there were 1,000 cases of polio every day. In 2018, year to date, there have been only 18 worldwide. 16 million children are walking today because of the eradication initiative. But that is not good enough, is it?
Certification of eradication requires NO NEW CASES for three consecutive years. This can be done. It will cost $1.5 billion. Nations and organizations have pledged $900 million. Rotary, with the Gates Foundation, pledged an additional $450 Million. Now we must make good on these pledges.
I have never been on a Polio eradication journey to India, or Pakistan or other parts in the world. But I have seen and met children in the under developed world that had been struck with the virus and are the outcast of society.
For the ride this year is to raise $10 Million, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation 2 to 1 match.
I am pledging a min. of $100.00 of my own money towards my pledge of $2,000. I am writing to ask you for a similar (any amount is accepted with gratitude) donation which, thanks to the Gates Foundation match, will actually be $300; enough to immunize 100 children.
Rotarians are always generous and helpful, so it is with this in mind that I am asking you to consider donating to the cause of eradicating Polio.
While you are welcome to send me a check payable to the Rotary Foundation, you may also donate direct to the Rotary Foundation, under Polio Plus, with the notation to support Me, Gernot Runschke, Polio ride in Tucson Arizona on November 17, 2018.
The children and families that never will suffer from this dreadful decease will thank you for ever.
Gernot Runschke
Rotary Club of Grand Haven,
DG 2016/17, District 6290 xt here
