Pedal power drives passion for polio fundraising across the Nullarbor

Tasmanian Rotarians Phil and Joyce Ogden mount their tandem bicycle to stage an epic fundraiser in support of Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign.

PDG Bob Aitken
RI End Polio Now Coordinator, Zone 8, 2018-22
Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains, NSW

With 30 years of tandem cycling behind them, the duo will leave Perth, WA, on May 17 and ride the 2,750km to Adelaide, SA, to support End Polio Now – with the support of their Rotary Club of South Launceston, Tas.

A retired anaesthetist, Phil has witnessed first hand the terrible legacy of the 50’s polio epidemic and the ongoing threat to children of the world, until the End Polio Now campaign was launched 30 plus years ago.

“There are no shops across 1200km of the Nullarbor and water is only available at roadhouses along the way. Dehydrated food will have to be mailed ahead and the Ogdens will have to carry food for a week and water for two days at a time.”

“We feel that the enormous effort that has gone into turning the tide of the disease will be lost if pressure and fundraising are not maintained until the disease is totally eradicated,” the couple emphasised.

“If we take our collective eyes off the ball, the disease will re-establish. So, we are still committed to making our personal donations every year, but felt we might harness another of our passions, cycling, to push things along, with the assistance of Rotary.”

Joyce and Phil have enjoyed many ‘tandem adventures’ together, covering more than 100,000km by way of unsupported crossings of the European Alps, the Pyrenees and the Rockies, in addition to organised long-distance rides with Audax, culminating in a 600km ride over 36 hours!

Planning
The Ogdens will plan and fund the entire trip with support from their Rotary Club of South Launceston and district leaders.

The window for riding the Nullarbor is relatively short as the prevailing wind and temperature must be favourable, making autumn and spring the only realistic options.

Phil and Joyce would like to use the ride to publicise the urgent need to complete the eradication of polio and are happy to address Rotary clubs in Tasmania and enroute in Perth, Kalgoorlie and Adelaide, however, time will be limited in each destination. Bookings can be made once final dates are known.

Logistics for the ride will be challenging, with camping and motels (where available) the only accommodation options on the Nullarbor.  

There are no shops across 1200km of the Nullarbor and water is only available at roadhouses along the way. Dehydrated food will have to be mailed ahead and the Ogdens will have to carry food for a week and water for two days at a time.

A tandem cycle carries two riders but only has the luggage capacity of a single bike, so the volume of extra provisions will be difficult to accommodate. However, weight is less of an issue as Google Maps describes the entire route as mainly flat.

Donations
Every dollar donated to End Polio Now will be matched with $2 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Donations can be made via raise.rotary.org/phil-ogden/fundraiser

Contact
Past Assistant Governor Marion Cooper of the Rotary Club of Sandy Bay, Tas, is the District 9830 contact:
E: yaringacoops@bigpond.com
M: 0417 371 726