Earlier this summer Bob McKenzie, a Tulsa Rotarian, rode his bicycle through Iola during the 35th annual Ride Across America. Thursday, he told Iola Rotarians about the experience and his devotion to Rotary’s signature project, worldwide eradication of polio.
“Those are my life now, bicycling and raising money for the polio project,” McKenzie said.
As emphasis, he rode his pricey bicycle — it costs $13,000 — 148 miles from his home in Tulsa to Iola, with wife Mickey following along in four-wheel vehicle support, as she did during the race across America.
Statistics of the transcontinental ride are daunting: It covers more than 3,000 miles, climbs a total of 175,000 feet and crosses 12 states. The adventure begins in Oceanside, Calif., under one of the longest piers in California and concludes in Annapolis, Md., the East Coast sailing mecca.
With three major mountain ranges on the route — Sierra, Rocky and Appalachian — cycling across Kansas was a relief, McKenzie quipped. “It’s flat.”
In his fifth year of serious riding, McKenzie uses his pastime to raise money for the polio project through sponsorships for his journeys. He also is keen on any other opportunity to free people — mainly kids — from the debilitating disease that once was a scourge.
His Tulsa club, 12th largest in the world, joined in the polio campaign years ago and in the first year came up with $3,000 in donations. Now, its annual solicitations raise $50,000 or more.
The polio eradication effort began in 1985, when worldwide 350,000 people annually were coming down with the virus; 50,000 a year died.
This year polio is restricted to Pakistan and Afghanistan. So far, 19 cases have been reported, none in the past three weeks.
To keep the virus at bay, Rotary provides about 100 million does of vaccine a year, at a cost of $60 million. Rotary International has more than 1.2 million members in 32,000 clubs among 200 countries.
McKenzie, bubbling with enthusiasm, encouraged Iola Rotarians to be true the club’s cause and also consider taking up bike riding, if not as extensively as he has at least recreationally. When he arrive in Iola Wednesday, he and Iola Rotarian Jay Kretzmeier took a ride on area trails, an experience he found exhilarating.
