Around the World Flight to End Polio ARRIVING IN AUSTRALIA JULY 2023

The Around the World Flight to End Polio is an initiative of Rotary Districts 5970 and 6000 which are located in Iowa USA. The purpose of the flight is to raise funds and awareness for polio eradication. Two pilots, John Ockenfels and Peter Teahen will fly a 1977 Cessna T210M single-engine airplane around the world. They will travel more than 40,000 kilometres (25,000 miles) with 33 landings in 25 countries.

John and Peter have been friends for many years. They are cousins through marriage, pilots who share a passion for aviation, Rotarians and members of the Fellowship of Flying Rotarians. They took off from Cedar Rapids, Iowa on 5 May and landed in Portsmouth New Hampshire, where they were met by Mike McGovern, Chair of Rotary’s PolioPlus Committee. Throughout the journey, they will encourage and support Rotary’s End Polio campaign and if the first stop is any indication, they will receive great media coverage.

each dollar donated turns into three dollars with their generous 2:1 match. John and Peter are covering the entire cost of the flight as well as taking time away from their careers and lives to help end polio.

Even though both John and Peter have hours of flight experience, this will be their first around-the-world trip. Surprisingly, only 700 pilots have ever flown around the world and fewer than 300 of those people are alive today. This trip puts John and Peter in unique and incredible company. Upon considering the idea of this daunting endeavour, Peter lightheartedly says that he thought, "One of the things I hadn't done yet was fly around the world!".

If you are interested in following the trip see: : https://www. flighttoendpolio.com/

The estimated date for the Brisbane landing is 6 July. Bribie Islander resident, D9560 Passport Club member and polio survivor, Wayne Slattery, will be at Brisbane Airport to meet Peter and John. Wayne’s wife Ravy, who is also a polio survivor, will attend the Brisbane welcome along with polio survivors from the Brisbane District. I am working with Darryl Iseppi, who is the Public Image Coordinator for the Brisbane District, on the media coverage for the Brisbane stopover.

Both pilots agreed that Rotary’s End Polio campaign would be the beneficiary of their fundraising flight. 100% of the funds received will be donated to the Rotary Foundation Polio Plus Program. And thanks to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,