El Tour de Tucson – The Ride to End Polio

In 2013, two years after recovering from breast cancer and major surgeries, my wife, LeAnn and I rode in the Ride to End Polio as part of the El Tour de Tucson. We rode 100 miles in 45 degree, rainy, and windy weather. Worst ride ever! After completing the 100-mile ride, LeAnn declared, “ We told everyone we were going to ride 100 miles to end polio and I was NOT going to stop until we had done it!”

Determined to replace that awful experience, we rode 100 miles again in 2015 in warm sunny weather.  Back a third time, I rode 50 miles in 2019.  All the dedication and training and time on a bike has one purpose– to help raise funds and awareness for polio eradication. We are very close, and Rotarians must not give up, as polio can strike back at any time, as we have seen recently in New York.

The Ride to End Polio will again take place in Tucson on November 19th this year. I will be riding the 100-kilometer portion of the El Tour de Tucson to represent District 5110. If there are others from the District please let me know.

I would like to challenge all District Rotarians who have not already made their PolioPlus donation this year to do so in support of World Polio Day on October 24th and The Ride to End Polio on November 19th. Make your donation as you normally would through your club or directly to The Rotary Foundation through the Rotary International website. https://www.rotary.org/en/donate You can also call (866) 976-8279 to make your donation.

Your donation will count toward your Paul Harris Fellow and if you donate $100 or more your donation will qualify you for our PolioPlus Society recognition. I will record all donations through The Rotary Foundation reports after October 1st as donations to World Polio Day and The Ride to End Polio. I will report back on or about December 1st what those donations and contributions have totaled.

Help end this terrible disease and make your contributions today.

PDG Tim Mobley