Follow Ramesh's Journey

What a treat it was to arrive at Whitbourne Elementary this morning and to have all the students and staff greeting the team as we rolled in front of the school. Students cheered and showed a welcome poster that they had all signed for us. After the extremely warm welcome, everyone cheered us into the gym prior to a presentation about coming together as a global community to get rid of polio once and for all and assisting polio survivors who need rehabilitation and support.

It’s hard for me to truly describe the energy in that school today. Every student listened attentively and understood the reason why we need to eradicate polio. It’s so reassuring for us to hear that Principal Susan George has committed to ensuring that her students and staff will continue to support the message well after the Cycle to Walk campaign has finished up at Cape Spear. Once we
were all finished up at the school the team rolled into the community of Holyrood to have a visit with Kevin O’Brien, who is the father of Val Royle, Vice President of the Cycle to Walk Society. To our surprise, our Edmonton friends (and billets!) Wayne and Gwen Halabisky tracked us down to visit with the team. It was great to finally meet Kevin in Holyrood, it was such a surprise to see Wayne and Gwen again!

Tonight’s Rotary meeting was a little different: it was a five-club dinner and an evening with the District Governor. Rotarians from the Avalon Northeast, St. John’s, St. John’s East, St. John’s Northwest, and Waterford Valley clubs came together for a great night. District 7820 Governor Doug Logan broke with tradition and granted me time to speak about polio and Cycle to Walk. It was great to speak in a room full of people who were already so committed to the goal of ending polio, and the team was very happy to be there and meet with everyone.

With every event there are always silent helpers who work so hard behind the scenes to ensure that the coordination of events, people and needed items are arranged. Jane Simmons is one of those silent helpers. Jane is a hard-working Rotarian volunteer who has worked so hard with Cycle to Walk’s Atlantic Canada Route Champion Carmen Gibbons to ensure that things have been set up in order for the people of St. John’s to hear the message of Cycle to Walk. Jane, the team enjoyed visiting with you this evening, we look forward to working with you over the next couple of days.

We’re in St. John’s tomorrow!