Rotarian,Thrill-Seeker Completes Fourth Solo Cross-Country Bicycle Trek to End Polio. More than 10,000
miles to End Polio Now sponsored by Air Animal Pet Movers
 |
| Nick Hall heading to the water for the traditional tire dip in San Diego |
Nick
Hall, a 74-year-old Rotarian, retired psychoneuroimmunologist and motivational
speaker, finished his fourth cross-country bicycle trip dipping his bicycle
tire in the Pacific at Oceanside, CA yesterday. The Seattle to San Diego route
along the Pacific Coast Highway and US 101 "boxed in the U.S." along
the West Coast. Hall rode solo without a support van and was sponsored by Air
Animal Pet Movers.
Hall’s rides have all
raised funds for Rotary International’s efforts to end polio in the world. He’s
been a self-described thrill seeker since childhood. In the 1960s, Hall
wrestled alligators as a summer job in Black Hills, SD before pedaling his
bicycle to Massachusetts for the fall semester.
Nick’s 2015 Pedal
Power to End Polio Now excursion began in San Diego and ended in St. Augustine,
FL. In 2018 Hall rode from Temple Terrace, FL to the Rotary International
Convention in Toronto, Canada. The Seattle to Tampa ride in 2020 challenged Hall
with mountain ranges and COVID shutdowns. Can you imagine pedaling all day in
summer heat and finding restaurants, gas stations and parks closed? Together,
the trips raised $50,400 to end polio.
"My goal this
year is to get as many $10K donations as possible from individuals and Rotary
clubs marking the fact that this trip will put me over the 10,000 mile mark
since that first ride in 2015," Hall said.
Air Animal Pet
Movers, owned by fellow Rotarian Walter M. Woolf, VMD, is the ride's major
sponsor. “Nick’s tenacity and physical capabilities amaze and entertain at the
same time as he’s helping Rotary reach our goal of a polio-free world. The
world beat smallpox. We can win against polio by working together—especially
with the worldwide COVID endemic,” Woolf said.
The lead $10,000
donation came from Thomas Dempsey and Alexis Dempsey Doyle. “Dr. Nick Hall
inspires us all to push to our greatest and furthest extent! His commitment to
ending polio now inspires our donation,” said Alexis. All donations to the ride
through the 501(C)3 Rotary District 6890 Foundation will be sent to the Rotary
International Foundation Polio Plus campaign.
The global pandemic shut
down polio vaccination programs allowing wild polio virus to spread. From a low
of 22 cases two countries in 2017 to 140 cases in 2020. Hall believes ending
polio is within reach for all humankind. He vividly remembers polio epidemics
of his youth when public pools were closed to prevent spreading the virus.
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Resources
·
Why
ending polio around the world now safeguards health for everyone. It’s even critical
for people in the United States where polio was eradicated years ago—until this
year. Read “What
the Polio Case in New York Tells Us About the End of Polio” by Arthur
Allen, Kaiser Health News, July 29, 2022.
·
Nick
Hall’s adventure cycling golden rules: be safe, have fun, do what you love, and
support what’s important.
·
Review
Nick's ride:
a. Facebook: PedalPowerToEndPolio
b. Instagram:
PedalPowerEndPolioNow
c. Twitter:
@PedalPwrFL
·
DONATE to help Rotary International bring an
end to polio. Every donation will be matched by the Gates Foundation. We’re this
close.
OR
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=WYTCU6YEJVWRQ
