The Rotary Club of Estoi Palace International (RCEPI) organised a fundraising bike ride in conjunction with Activity Algarve Bike Rides on Sunday, November 20. In total, €1,100 was raised through donations and sponsorship in aid of the End Polio Now campaign.
Despite the inclement weather, the enthusiastic group of riders cycled all the way up to the top of the Cerro São Miguel on a challenging 35km round trip starting from Estoi Pousada and ending in front of the church in Estoi.
RCEPI was founded in 2008 and apart from helping the local community in numerous ways, the Club has also supported The Rotary Foundation’s key project of eradicating polio from the planet, contributing over €10,000 towards this.
Rotarians worldwide have helped immunise more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries. For as little as $0.60, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life. As a result of this huge campaign, India was declared polio-free in 2012.
In 2007, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation joined the fight and, from 2013, the Gates Foundation agreed to match two-to-one, every dollar the Rotary Foundation commits to reduce the funding shortfall for polio eradication through to 2018.
With the two-to-one match from the Bill Gates Foundation, the €1,100 raised from the bike ride becomes €3,300 towards the End Polio Now campaign.
www.rotaryestoipalace.org
