Follow Ramesh's Journey

After a scrumptious breakfast at Home Again Bed & Breakfast, Chris and I headed to 101.5 The Hawk FM to meet with Scottie O and Courtney. I love it when on-air announcers hear the message, believe in it, and share the possibility of a polio-free world with their listeners. Upon returning to the team at Home Again, we met several schoolkids waiting for their bus across the street. Of course, we went over to introduce ourselves, talk with them about polio, and give out Cycle to Walk wrist bands. Soon afterwards we said bye to our new friends Jennifer and Jordan Phillips at Home Again B&B, and were on our way.

At our starting point Rilla and Jim McLean, Yvonne Fox, and Connie and Ingram Fowlie greeted us Kelly from The Hawk FM showed up in their mobile cruiser so listeners would know exactly when we hit the road. The group that met us welcomed both Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope and Rick Hansen’s Man in Motion tour when they passed through. Everyone was thrilled to come together to welcome the Cycle to Walk team and wish us well. What a great way to start the day!

Cape Breton Island is gorgeous. Lakes, rivers, hills, large pumpkins, and sunshine filled our day. It actually reminded me of cycling through some sections of Northern Ontario – except that the roads have shoulders here in Nova Scotia. Cars and trucks honked their horns, waved, and cheered us on today. I learned from the road team that The Hawk FM had re-broadcasted news about Cycle to Walk as well as parts of our interview several times over the course of the day. People must have been listening!

I’m glad to know we got so much airtime today. People need to talk about polio. We need to bring this issue back into the forefront in Canada so we won’t have to talk about it 50 years from now. As I was cycling up a large hill, 11-year-old Christian came running up after us just to say hello and wish us well. It means a lot to me when young people take the time to hear the message of Cycle to Walk and then tell their friends and family about us. Thank you, Christian, for running up that huge hill to show your support, and thanks for the email that was waiting for me in my inbox this evening. You really helped me end my day on a high note.