CIRCLE THE ATLANTIC: FLIGHT TO END POLIO

 

 

Flight To End Polio (https://www.flighttoendpolio.com/)  has announced a second, world record-setting flight, departing in late August and landing in Portsmouth NH on or around October 5^th at Pease, the last stop of their circling the Atlantic trip as they return to NJ. This flight is titled “Circle the Atlantic: Flight To End Polio.” The two Rotarian pilots from Iowa, Peter Teahen and Ed Galkin, are flying into our District to raise awareness and raise funds for polio eradication. 100% of the funds raised are donated to The Rotary Foundation Polio Plus Campaign and matched 2:1 by the Gates Foundation.

Some of you may recall, in the summer of 2023, Peter and his partner John Ockenfels (consulting on this current trip) flew a single-engine plane (which is really small!) around the world to raise funds for polio eradication. Their first leg was Iowa to Portsmouth NH, and from our district they went on to Newfoundland and Iceland, then toured Europe and the Middle East, visiting Jordan, Abu Dhabi and Pakistan where they immunized children with polio vaccine drops. They then went on to India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji, Pago Pago, Hawaii and finally home to Iowa.

 

  

 

At one of their stops, they were asked if they hoped that polio would be eradicated soon. Their listeners were aghast when the initial response was “no.” But the full response was: “We don’t have hope that we will end polio in the near future… we BELIEVE we will end polio!”

 

This team of pilots have still not given up and they will be circumnavigating the Atlantic between August 30^th and October 5th!

 

Please stay tuned to mark your calendar for our D-7780 Welcome at Pease Airbase, near to October 5^th.

 

Watch our District website and stay tuned for announcements for more background information on the events to celebrate the Flight to EndPolio/Circle the Atlantic.

 

To follow their fight, learn more and to donate go to…