Cycle to Walk

This initiative is driven by an individual who has experienced first-hand what it is like to have suffered with - and survived - a disease that many people (falsely) assume has been eradicated. Adopted from India by Canadian parents in 1982, Ramesh returned to India for a journey in 2002, where he witnessed what it is like to suffer with polio and yet lack rehabilitative support. Upon his return to Canada, Ramesh vowed to help. In-person events held along his route are supplementing the interactive informational website designed to help people track his progress, learn about (and discuss) polio, and donate funds.

Specifically, visitors to the Cycle to Walk website may learn various facts about this vaccine-preventable disease, and participate in various online discussions about Ramesh's journey. Details about various educational speaking engagements and other events that Ramesh is leading in stops along the route (e.g., at schools, service clubs, healthcare providers, and governmental offices) are provided here. In addition, Ramesh is carrying a global positioning satellite (GPS) device with him on his bike; the data from this technological tool is regularly uploaded to the website so that people may track his progress, follow along in Google Earth, and/or access high-resolution maps.

Health, Immunisation and Vaccines.

According to organisers, the immunisation rate in Canada against polio is 89%, which leaves nearly 4 million Canadians (11%) vulnerable to this viral infection. According to WHO calculations, the rate of immunisation is (as of early 2008) low enough to put Canada at risk for at least localised outbreaks.