Journey to fight polio brings hand cyclist to Valley

BY WENDY ELLIOTT

welliott@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

Cross-Canada hand cyclist Ramesh Ferris will arrive in the Valley this week. He is about halfway on his Cycle to Walk journey to fight polio.

Ann Lockhart of the New Minas Sunrise Rotary Club says Ferris is tentatively scheduled to arrive at the Wandlyn Inn, Coldbrook off Highway 101 at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7.

After he is greeted, she said, local cyclists and runners are invited to travel with him to downtown Kentville. Lockhart expects he will complete the square and head for Memorial Park and some speeches.

The team is going to be billeted in Canning and have been invited to breakfast with the New Minas club the next day at Boston Pizza. Lockhart added they hope Ferris will be able to meet that morning with students at Horton High School.

A 28-year-old polio survivor, Ferris 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, Ferris vowed to help and Cycle to Walk was born.

Initiated by Whitehorse Rotarians, who accepted his proposal to hand cycle across Canada to raise awareness and funds for polio eradication and the rehabilitation for its poorest victims, the project has grown far beyond Rotary.

Other service clubs, churches, governments and people from all walks of life have come forward to help. They have contributed money, as well as much needed in-kind donations. As well, they have given freely of their time and special skills.

Lockhart notes that the Bill Gates Foundation will double whatever Ferris raises through Cycle to Walk. The Yukon government gave the campaign important start-up assistance. This was in recognition of the potential public health service the campaign will give by promoting immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Ferris's road team consists of four to seven people, headed up by Doug and Bertha Ayers. These two anchors of the team are going across Canada with Ferris. They are joined off and on by other team members at various points along the way.

The team is traveling in a motor home that doubles as a rolling headquarters and their home. Another vehicle is used for reconnaissance to ensure the safety of the team and the public and tows a trailer containing spare bicycle parts and two other hand cycles that hopefully will minimize down time due to mechanical problems.

For more, visit: cycletowalk.com.