Fight to end polio

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Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

AMERICAN pilots John Ockenfels and Peter Teahan landed in Cairns this week as part of their End Polio Now awareness journey around the globe, successfully fundraising over $6000 for polio vaccines with the help of Rotary Clubs of Cairns. The total of $6200 raised in Cairns on July 4 will be matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, taking the funds up to $12,433, resulting in 88,813 polio vaccines that will be sent to countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan, where polio is still endemic.

Mr Ockenfels and Mr Teahan have been travelling the globe since May in their single-engine aircraft, intending to visit 39 cities in 21 different countries in 90 days to fundraise $1 million – a goal that has already been achieved – to eradicate polio once and for all. Their stop in Cairns proved highly successful, with 80 people at the fundraiser party on Tuesday night at the Skytek hangar and 14 key sponsors and donors like Cairns Airport, Skytek, Hilton Cairns and more.

“The event in Cairns was outstanding, and it’s one of the top ones we’ve had so far,” Mr Ocken-

Ironman tips in $50,000

l MANOORA fels said. “For a city of this size in a country that doesn’t have a focus on polio eradication, it was a great result.

“Mankind has only eradicated one disease in history – smallpox – and I believe polio will be the second.”

Cairns North resident and polio survivor Susanne Rea was one of the key speakers of the night. Ms Rea was diagnosed at the age of four in England before vaccines were available and struggles until this day with the aftermath of the illness.

“While the virus is living, all children worldwide are at risk,” Ms Rea said.

“People can travel without knowing they have polio in their gut, and then another outbreak can happen.

“So it was humbling that so many people in Cairns believe that we must eliminate this virus, and by their contribution, they have helped, so it’s a very significant achievement.”

Rotary Clubs of Cairns spokeswoman Rita Zappulla thanked the Cairns community for supporting the fight against polio.

“Big thanks, Cairns, for making us proud. The funds will allow us to provide 88,000 polio vaccines to third world countries,” she said.

Mr Ockenfels and Mr Teahan will now fly to Toowoomba .

MORE than $50,000 has been raised for COUCH (Cairns Organisation United for Cancer Health) during this year’s Cairns Airport Ironman 70.3 Cairns. COUCH was the official charity partner for the event.

COUCH events and partnerships officer Bec Dent said this year involved “a team of amazing humans who participated in the 70.3 as individuals and teams for COUCH raising awareness and funds for our organisation”.

“Thank you to every member of Team COUCH,” she said.

“We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Together they have raised over $50,000 for COUCH,” she said.

Ms Dent said COUCH was grateful for the large number of sponsors and no event was possible without “an army of volunteers to give of their time and talents so generously.”

‘We appreciate you and all you do to help improve the lives of Far North Queenslanders impacted by cancer. Thank you for being our champions,” she said.

Ms Dent said all the profits from the fun run were donated to COUCH.”

“We had over 350 people participating this year,” she said.

“We look forward to seeing this number grow in 2024.”