In 1954 I was too young to remember how my mother anxiously checked my neck flexion every morning, looking for the first subtle sign of paralysis. I was too young to remember how they converted a maternity unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, designed for the joy of new life, into a corridor of iron lungs in which paralyzed children lay, encased in iron lungs which noisily hissed as they performed the life-sustaining task of breathing for those who could not breathe for themselves. I may have been too young to understand our parents’ anxiety during those summer months, but I certainly sensed it. I do vividly remember my cousin, paralyzed below the waste by polio, as he awkwardly navigated on crutches; he would swing his leg with a twist of his hip and the metal-encased leg would clang forward. It was frightening to a young child.
There were more than 15,000 cases a year back then in the United States. Then came the wonderful vaccine: first as a shot, then on a sugar cube, and now as drops on the tongue. We were early adapters; I got the shot. By 1979, polio was eradicated in the United States. Now it has been 99.9% eliminated throughout the world. 16 million people who would have been paralyzed have been saved. It took an average of 400 million immunizations a year and billions of dollars. But there were less than 40 new cases last year, and only 5 reported so far this year.
We can end polio by 2020. It will take another $1.5 billion dollars, community effort in some of the most difficult places in the world, and ongoing monitoring to identify if there are any hot spots. Walking away from the challenge would likely result in 200,000 cases a year in 10 years. Let’s do the work required to eliminate this disease in our lifetime. It is within reach.
I am asking you to donate through the Rotary Foundation at www.endpolio.org/donate. Dedicate your gift to your favorite polio survivor, your local rotary club, or to the Rotary Club of Frederick County, Virginia – Crandell. Every dollar contributed will be matched 2 to 1 by the Gates Foundation. Later this summer, I will start pedaling in San Diego. For 27 straight days, I will ride more than 100 miles a day, until I arrive in Savannah, Georgia. I will pedal to fund-raise in honor of my cousin and all those who have been effected by polio. Even more meaningful, this will be a small part of the final push to end polio forever!
In addition to the sheer volume of 300 miles per week, there are 3 goals remaining in my training: climbing 8000 feet regularly and getting in long rides of 150 and 200 miles. Yesterday I rode my first double century. I started before 7am and finished after 8 pm, with good breaks at miles 75, 130 and 182. I had planned to tackle 150 but the day was comfortable and I felt strong. So I kept going.
I look forward to seeing the beauty of America on the transcontinental ride. Yet the beauty of Virginia is stunning! Rather than mindlessly log miles, I stopped a few times yesterday to capture some of the scenery that surrounds me daily. I said a quick prayer of gratitude for the box turtle, deer, and fox that accompanied me.
