Follow Ramesh's Journey

Since arriving on the prairies, I’ve cycled for hours under the hot sun. As the Cycle to Walk team approaches Regina, I’m finding that my skin is burning, and I’m considerably darker than I was when the campaign commenced.

For the longest time, I thought I didn’t need sunscreen because of my dark skin. More recently, I learned that regardless of skin colour, it’s definitely important to ensure protection from harsh UV rays!

I received some good news from home today: there’s lots of excitement and awareness of the Cycle to Walk campaign happening at Golden Horn Elementary School and Selkirk Street Elementary School in Whitehorse, Yukon. Recently, students at Golden Horn Elementary School participated in Cycle to Walk’s “Purple Pinky Project” fundraiser, where each student paid $1 to have their pinky coloured purple. Allow me to explain:

When Rotary International conducts mass immunization days, hundreds of thousands – and even millions – of children are immunized from polio in just a matter of days. Each child’s pinky finger is temporarily dyed purple with gentian violet to indicate that they have received the polio vaccination. Making children’s pinkies purple ensures that everyone receives the polio vaccination, and nobody gets a double-dose.

All funds raised by the Purple Pinkie Project go to the Cycle to Walk campaign. Thank-you so much to all the students and staff for your continued support of the Cycle to Walk polio campaign. If you are interested in learning more about the Purple Pinkie Project, download the Purple Pinkie Project fundraising package from this website’s Media Centre under the “Promotional Documents” heading.