A celebration is planned for tomorrow (June 17) to mark the return of Cochrane Rotarian Dan Paarsmarkt, who will be rolling into town tomorrow to end his epic 1,600-kilometre cycling journey in support of Rotary International’s mission to eradicate polio.
Paarsmarkt will be joined by a group of cyclists at 11 a.m. at the Frank Wills Memorial Hall, 405 1st St. E., to join him in the final kilometre of his ride to the Cochrane Legion on 5th Ave. A celebration will follow, where he'll be welcomed by fellow Rotarians, supporters, and local dignitaries, including MLA Peter Guthrie and Mayor Jeff Genung.
The celebration begins at 11:30 a.m. and includes a hot dog barbecue lunch followed by a special program.
Like his fellow Rotarians, Paarsmarkt dreams of a world without polio—and decided to take action. After months of training, he set off from the Alberta–Northwest Territories border on an epic ride to the Alberta–Montana border, raising awareness and funds for polio eradication along the way.
Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a highly infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. It spreads through contaminated water or food, particularly in areas with poor sanitation. Most commonly affecting young children, the virus can attack the nervous system and cause paralysis. While there is no cure, polio is preventable through safe and effective vaccination.
Rotary International has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years and has reduced global cases by 99.9 per cent since launching its first vaccination project in the Philippines in 1979.
The service organization says it has contributed over $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to help protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from the paralyzing disease. Its global advocacy efforts have also helped prompt governments to commit more than $10 billion toward the cause.
Polio remains endemic in only two countries—Afghanistan and Pakistan—something Rotarians aspire to change while keeping other countries polio-free.