Participate for Polio
Ride. Walk. Run. Gather. Give. Help End Polio.
Participate for Polio is about coming together — as Rotarians, families, friends and communities — to support Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign.
Throughout the year, District 7090 hosts and supports a variety of events that turn fellowship, fun and community participation into action for PolioPlus. Whether you ride your bike, lace up your running shoes, join us for a fellowship event to raise funds, make a donation, or share the message, there is a place for you in the fight to End Polio Now.
Rotary and its partners have helped reduce polio cases worldwide by more than 99.9%. The finish line is in sight — but we must keep going.
Choose your way to participate.
Together, let's End Polio Now.
7th Annual Dr. Ron Mergl Memorial Ride
September 26, 2026 10:00am-2:00pm
For more than 40 years, Rotary International has led the global effort to eradicate polio — our number one humanitarian cause. Together with its partners, Rotary has helped reduce polio cases worldwide by more than 99.9%, bringing us to the threshold of a world where no child will ever again suffer from this devastating disease.
But we are not finished yet.
That is why District 7090 is once again hosting a special Participate for Polio event on Saturday, September 26, 2026 — the 7th Annual Dr. Ron Mergl Memorial Ride. All donations will support PolioPlus.
Riding in Ron’s Memory — Riding to End Polio
The event, first organized in 2020 by Past District Governor Frank Adamson, was held in memory of Dr. Ron Mergl, a dedicated member of the Rotary Club of Niagara Falls for more than 33 years.
Ron and his wife, June, participated twice in Rotary International Polio Immunization Days in India and Africa. Ron passed away in July 2020, having truly lived his personal mantra: “always give help to others who have less.”
District 7090 invites Rotarians, friends and family members to honour Ron’s legacy and help Rotary keep its promise to the children of the world.
Bring your bike or your running shoes on September 26 — and ride, run or walk with us to End Polio!
District 7090 Event Information & Registration:
7th Annual Dr. Ron Mergl Memorial Ride Team
Then, to join our fundraising team or to donate, please click here to access our new Raise for Rotary link:
Every dollar raised helps Rotary move closer to a polio-free world. Your participation — and your fundraising — makes a real difference.
We will gather at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Davids Lions Park, 1462 York Road, St. Davids. The 30 Km route will take us through Niagara Farmlands and Wine Country. After we return, we will convene for food, beverages and fellowship at The Old Firehall Restaurant, just a short distance away at 268 Four Mile Creek Road.
Three Rides. One Great Rotary Collaboration
This year marks an exciting partnership for the good of Rotary. District 7090 and the Rotary Clubs of Lincoln and Dundas are working together to expand the impact of three cycling events while supporting multiple worthy causes.
The 3 Bike Tour includes:
Bike the Benchlands held on Saturday August 29, this event supports the Kristen French Child Advocacy Centre. Well done Rotary Club of Lincoln! To donate, go to:
Bike the Benchlands
District 7090’s Participate for Polio — 7th Annual Dr. Ron Mergl Memorial Ride on Saturday September 26, riders, runners and walkers will come together to raise funds for PolioPlus.
Tour de Dundas hosted by the Rotary Club of Dundas on Sunday September 27, this event supports Margaret’s Place Hospice and Routes Youth Centre. To learn more or register, go to:
Tour de Dundas
Got questions or need more information, contact your District End Polio Co-chairs: Frank Adamson — fadamson@vaxxine.com and Elaine Richard — emmrichard55@gmail.com
2025 Dr. Ron Mergl Participate for Polio
District 7090's Ride to End Polio
Despite a brief sprinkle mid-ride, the weather was nearly perfect for the 6th Annual Dr. Ron Mergl Participate for Polio event, held on Saturday, September 13th. This District 7090 initiative to End Polio has been running since October 2020, thanks to Past District Governor Frank Adamson (Rotary Club of Fonthill), in honour of Dr. Ron Mergl—a devoted member of the Rotary Club of Niagara Falls. Alongside his wife June, Ron participated in Rotary International’s Polio Immunization Days in both India and Africa. He passed away in July 2020.
This year, Frank—now serving as District End Polio Chair—was cycling in the Battlefield Bike Ride in the Netherlands, commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Holland and raising funds for Wounded Warriors Canada. In his absence, Co-chair Elaine Richard (Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore) led the 2025 Participate for Polio ride, with support from Graham Repei (Rotary Club of St. Catharines South).
A huge thank-you to our cyclists. The Participate for Polio Team raised over $10,000 CAD through the Raise for Rotary platform! Special thanks to:
- Graham Repei for route planning
- Gary Chard (Rotary Lakeshore), our ride marshal
- Immediate Past District Governor and acting Foundation Committee Chair Dave Alexander for ‘starting us off, finding us halfway, and joining us at the end’
- District Foundation Committee member Annie Holtby (Rotary Club of Fonthill) for her support
- All our fundraisers—especially Dr. June Mergl (Rotary Club of Niagara Falls)—and everyone who has donated to End Polio
U.S. Bike Ride to End Polio
We are this close! This is our Rotary Mantra to remind us how close the world is to removing Polio from the face of the Earth. And we, as Rotarians, can have a little bit of pride in knowing how much our efforts have contributed to getting us to this point. After all, we made a promise to the world when Rotary began the Polio Plus program to do just that. So, this is no time to let up. In fact, we need to raise more awareness and funds to support this cause.
Well, guess what? You have the opportunity to do just that. On September 26, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. at the Ellicott Creek Trailways Park, in Amherst, NY, the Amherst South Rotary Club will be hosting the “Poker Run Bike Ride to End Polio”. This is an opportunity to get together with your fellow Rotarians and friends of Rotarians, to ride your bikes, have some fellowship, raise some funds and have a little fun!
Riders will be collecting cards along the trail, trying to get the best hand and win prizes. And don’t forget that all funds raised for Polio Plus will be matched 2 to 1 by the Gates Foundation.
If you want to join this year’s Ride, register with Past District Governor Scott Marcin at sdmarcin@gmail.com.
U.S. Participate / Pedal for Polio
This event began in 2020 as the U.S. side of the “Dr. Ron Mergl Memorial Pedal for Polio" with the Rotary Club of Lockport organizing. In 2021, the Rotary club of Lewiston/NOTL hosted the U.S. ride from Hennepin Park (Lewiston) to Fort Niagara (Youngstown) and back. The U.S. Pedal for Polio was hosted by Lewiston/NOTL again in 2022. In 2023, the event took place at the Grand Island's Beaver Island Park, West River Trail on the U.S. side. It was organized by Sherry Miller of the Rotary Club of Grand Island with assistance from James Jones (Kenmore Rotary), and Tommy Gerbasi (Lewiston-NOTL). In 2024 and 2025, participants could again Walk, Run or Ride the West River Trail, in Grand Island State Park, New York. The host club was Grand Island and Sherry Miller chaired once again using the platform Raise for Rotary. All proceeds over the years have supported Polio Plus, Rotary’s initiative to eradicate polio worldwide.
Canada Participate / Dr. Ron Mergl Memorial Ride
Paddle for Polio
On August 22nd, District 7090 held the 4th annual Paddle for Polio. It was another fun morning on the water to raise monies for the Rotary Foundation’s Polio Plus Fund and to raise awareness for the work of Rotary and it partners to bring us closer to a polio free world. Participants got a little wet, had some fun, then enjoyed fellowship and refreshments.
Thank you Past District Governor Scott Marcin for organizing this event since 2023 at Mutual Riverfront Park, in Buffalo, New York. Every year, participants (Rotarians, family and friends) bring their kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards to navigate the waters of the Buffalo River to Paddle for Polio.
