"Coast to Coast - The Hard Way" Motorcycle Ride for Polio Plus

Help End Polio Now!

In 1985 when Rotary began the polio eradication initiative the world’s children suffered from 1000 new cases of paralytic polio every day. Since then new cases of polio have been reduced to fewer than 225 in 2013, and confined to only three endemic countries.

“We have the ability to protect every last person, especially children, from this entirely Preventable Disease” – Anthony Lake, Executive Director, UNICEF.

Rotary International, The World Health Organization, UNICEF, the US Center for Disease Control, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, countless volunteers and national governments have the goal to eradicate polio from the earth by 2018.

The 2013–2018 Polio Eradication Strategic Plan costs $5.5 billion. We have funding for $4 Billion. You can close the $1.5 Billion dollar gap and get the job done. Until polio is eradicated EVERYWHERE no unvaccinated child is safe ANYWHERE. If polio rebounds, within a decade, more than 200,000 children worldwide could be paralyzed by polio each year.

Rotary District 6290 of Michigan and Ontario is stepping forward with a fundraising adventure “Coast to Coast - The Hard Way” a motorcycle ride to raise money to close the funding gap. In this fundraising adventure, Wayne Koppa, a Rotarian and motorcycle enthusiast from Grayling, Michigan will ride his BMW 650 motorcycle from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Key West, Florida in 200 hours to raise money for the eradication of polio. We are seeking donations from individuals and organizations willing to rid the world of this destructive disease. Wayne will pay all his expenses incurred to make the trip so your contribution goes to fight polio. All donations will go to Rotary International Polio Plus for polio eradication and will be matched 2:1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, turning every $100 donation into $300 to eliminate Polio.  

The Ride: From Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Key West, Florida

Anyone can ride from the West to East Coast.  Wayne will ride North to South (See the map in gallery picture 2).

Wayne's Ride:

• Depart Grayling June 8th to the waters of the Arctic Ocean in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to begin his trip 
• Depart on "The Ride" on June 16th starting with The Haul Road, 500 miles of gravel in Deadhorse, Alaska 
• Arrive at the deck of the Cayo Hueso Cafe June 24th
• Return to Grayling again around June 30th, where we will toast the efforts of Rotarians past and present who have worked to end Polio.

See where Wayne is at IN REAL-TIME at: http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0fqAKJH0RqmkezsZJ6XFfDvmWp6toE73l

Join the Fundraising Adventure!

Every dollar counts. The dollar you contribute could be the dollar that finally helps Polio Plus program finish this effort. 

All donations are a tax-deductible contribution to the Razoo Foundation facilitated by Rotary Camps and Services, operated by the Rotary Club of Traverse City, in support of Rotary International's fight to End Polio Now. Rotary Camps and Services is a 501(c)3 organization operated by the Rotary Club of Traverse City, which is the sponsor of this project. Rotary Camps and Services will act as the fiduciary to aggregate donations from Razoo prior to forwarding on to the Polio Plus account at Rotary Foundation. Rotary Camps and Services take no fees for this service but does insure all donors that their name and club affiliation will remain with their individual contribution when the funds are relayed to Rotary Foundation, thereby assuring all donors appropriate individual and club credit for their donations.

If you would like to make a donation by check please make it out to Rotary Camps & Services of Traverse City at 202 East Grandview Parkway, Traverse City, Michigan 49684

ROTARIANS WILL RECEIVE CREDIT FOR A POLIO PLUS DONATION, PLEASE NOTE YOUR ROTARY CLUB NAME AS YOUR DONATION DEDICATION.

Other Ways You Can Help

We know not everyone has a pile of cash laying around, but we still need your support! Share our project with your friends, family, fellow Rotarians and anyone you know with a humanitarian spirit willing to play a part in creating a world free from polio.

Any of your time and talents that you provide to help our efforts are greatly appreciated. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for all of the generous folks who have already reached out to support us. Thank you!

With much thanks,

Rotary District 6290 of Michigan and Ontario

We can be contacted at coasttocoastthehardway@gmail.com