Our Story
Ramesh Ferris
A 28-year-old polio survivor, Ramesh was adopted from India by Canadian parents in 1982. He can walk with the assistance of braces and crutches; however, his legs are not strong enough to propel a conventional bicycle. Instead, he rides using a hand cycle which relies upon his powerful upper body strength to maximize distance and speed.
He visited India in 2002 and witnessed the devastating reality for polio victims who do not have rehabilitative supports. Upon his return to Canada, Ramesh vowed to help. Cycle to Walk was born.
“As Commissioner of Yukon, I am asked to lend my support and name to many organizations. This can be a charity I firmly believe in or it can be a long-standing community organization that makes a great contribution.
When a young fellow that I have known since he arrived in the Yukon as a child, approached me along with the Rotary Club to support his initiative and become the Honourary Chair for the "Cycle to Walk," I did not hesitate. I did not hesitate because his cause is pure and Ramesh Ferris is someone who has the focus and drive to complete his dream of hand cycling across Canada.”
- The Honourable Geraldine Van Bibber, Commissioner of Yukon
Cycle to Walk Campaign
- April 12, 2008: anniversary of the release of Salk’s polio vaccine. Ramesh Ferris will begin to hand cycle 7,200 km from Victoria BC to Cape Spear NL to raise money and awareness for polio
- Ramesh will cover 400 km every ten days for six months on a 27-speed hand cycle
- He will consume 5,000 calories worth of food per day to fuel his journey
- Ramesh will visit schools, service clubs, healthcare providers and various levels of government along the route
- He will be accompanied by a support team to ensure the journey is safe and successful.
Goals of Cycle to Walk
- Eradicate – 75% of proceeds from fundraising activities will be contributed to Rotary International’s PolioPlus program via the Rotary Foundation of Canada to help conduct mass immunizations in endemic and at-risk regions,
- Rehabilitate – 20% of proceeds will go to help with humanitarian rehabilitation projects (20%),
- Educate – 5% of monies raised will be used to and to educate Canadians about polio and advocating their continued immunization (5%) through the Ramesh Ferris Cycle to Walk Society. As part of its mission, the Cycle to Walk campaign will educate Canadians in a direct, personal way about polio and deliver the message that until the world is certified ‘polio-free’, Canadians must continue to immunize, for their own protection, and to assist the global polio eradication effort.
Raising funds is a major part of the Cycle to Walk mission to offset funding shortfalls for global immunization and rehabilitation projects.
Learn more...
- About Ramesh – View his Bio (PDF)
- About Cycle to Walk - Download the Cycle to Walk Powerpoint Presentation
(50MB .zip) - Letter of Support from the Honourable Geraldine Van Bibber, Commissioner of the Yukon (PDF)