Pictured are some of the Rotary Club of SaddleBrooke’s “Cycle Paths” getting ready to help end polio.
Diane Demeroutis and Barbara Barr Bengen
Save to date of Nov. 23 to join the fun with the SaddleBrooke Rotary CyclePaths as they raise funds to end polio. Each year, we have so much fun as we ride in groups or privately on stationary bikes to raise money to eradicate polio! I know—you thought polio was gone. Well, almost.
Each year we have fun while taking on polio during the El Tour de Tucson. This amazing event is the No. 1 fundraiser in the world for all of Rotary International. Rotarians and friends from around the world join in on the experience!
Some like to experience the rides sponsored by the El Tour de Tucson. Others like to ride around SaddleBrooke or SaddleBrooke Ranch in one of our groups. Some like to head to one of our fitness centers to hop on stationary bikes. Still, others ride a stationary bike at home. No matter how you ride, or who you ride with, we’re all making a difference in eradicating polio.
As of 2009, Polio Plus is a registered nonprofit beneficiary that participates in El Tour de Tucson. Polio Plus is part of the Foundation of Rotary International. The Rotary Foundation is a 501(c)(4) organization. The Charity Navigator ranks the Rotary Foundation 4 stars out of 4 stars! For the past few years, the Ride to End Polio, assisted by the Gates Foundation’s two-to-one match, has raised more than $60 million to aid in Rotary’s fight to end polio. Your donations are tax-deductible and well-managed.
You thought polio had disappeared? Almost. Thanks to Rotary International and now the Gates Foundation, we’re down to three countries. There are still active cases in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and now in the United States. However, with the unrest in the Middle East, there are new cases emerging. If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year.
You don’t need to ride in El Tour to participate! The Rotary Club of SaddleBrooke has organized inside and outside rides in SaddleBrooke and SaddleBrooke Ranch on Saturday, Nov. 23. For more information or to get involved, contact Diane at [email protected].
So just what is Rotary? Rotary International is a global network of neighbors, friends, and leaders who volunteer their skills and resources to solve issues and address community needs. Rotary is the largest volunteer organization in the world. The Rotary Club of SaddleBrooke has 60-plus members from the SaddleBrooke, SaddleBrooke Ranch, and surrounding areas. This local club has continuously won awards year after year for its excellence in club management and membership.
To learn more about Rotary and our club, come join us on a service project, bike ride to end polio, or for lunch. We meet weekly for lunch at the Ranch House at SaddleBrooke Ranch on Thursdays at 11 a.m. This is followed by a brief meeting and a program. For more information, contact Diane Demeroutis at [email protected].