Follow Ramesh's Journey

Today I woke up feeling refreshed, improved and ready for the day. My illness had waned, and all systems were go for me to spread the message of Cycle to Walk. The morning started out at Bowring Park when we met up with Paddy Daly and Krissy Holmes – hosts of the widely popular “Out of the Fog” program. Thanks so much to you both for taking the time to learn more about Cycle to Walk and for helping us spread the word to people in St. John’s and around Newfoundland! The more we can educate people about today’s realities of polio, the sooner we can make it a disease of the past.
From the park, the team headed straight to a meeting of the St. John’s Northwest Rotary Club. Jane Simmons, our organizer extraordinaire, arranged for us to speak at Mary Queen of the World school shortly thereafter. Tonight, as I write this blog entry, I have already received four separate emails from students and staff at Mary Queen of the World that thank the team for the work Cycle to Walk is doing. Some of the students wrote about how they feel inspired to chase their own dreams, while others wrote about how they plan to share Cycle to Walk’s message with others. I want to thank everyone who took the time to write to me. I read every message.

This afternoon, my parents, Ron and Jan Ferris, flew in to St. John’s to participate in Cycle to Walk’s closing festivities. I haven’t seen my parents since the beginning of the campaign back on April 12th, so it feels really special to share the campaign’s end with them here on the other side of the country.

Tonight, the team enjoyed a meal with several people who have flown in for the finale: Mal Malloch and Valerie Royle from Cycle to Walk’s Board of Directors, President Allon Reddoch, Executive Director Shelley Williamson, and Alex Furlong, President of the Yukon Federation of Labour – and huge Cycle to Walk supporter. Chris Wright, our honourary team member here in St. John’s, joined us as well.

Although it would be impossible for everyone who has helped the campaign to fly to St. John’s for the end, I know that so many people are with the team in spirit. I can’t thank Carmen Gibbons and all the other route champions enough. The same goes for the board of directors, the volunteers, and everyone up at C2W Headquarters who have made this campaign successful in so many ways. Your commitment means so much to me, and I’m forever grateful for your efforts!

I’m writing this blog tonight feeling overwhelmed with emotion, satisfied, and thrilled that together we have spent the last 172 days educating a country about the reality of polio. There’s a saying that I recently heard: “There is no price tag on the doors of Newfoundlanders.” This saying holds true not only in Newfoundland & Labrador, but throughout this great country of Canada. The outpouring of support – through volunteer hours, in-kind donations, meals, billets, sponsors and donations are priceless! Thank-you so much, Canada! We’ll see you in Cape Spear!