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 has been organized annually since October 2020 by 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).
The group gathered at the St. Davids Lions Club before cycling to Niagara-on-the-Lake. Midway, riders stopped for fresh-baked treats and fruit at Walker's Country Market. After returning, we enjoyed some fellowship at The Old Firehall Restaurant in St. Davids. What a fun ride with a great group!
To date, the Canada side Participate for Polio Team has raised over $7,000 CAD through the Raise for Rotary platform!
If you haven’t donated yet, the fundraiser remains open through October and November.
Support PolioPlus by visiting: https://raise.rotary.org/Elaine-Richard/memorial822. Every $1 you give becomes $3 thanks to the 2:1 match from the Gates Foundation.
A huge thank-you to our cyclists:· District Governor Elect Joanne Serkeyn (Rotary Club of Lincoln)
· George Eastwood (Dundas Rotary Club)
· Assistant Governor Coordinator Tommy Wegge (Rotary Club of Niagara-on-the-Lake)
· Assistant Rotary Regional Foundation Coordinator Sandi Chard (Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore)
· James Craig (Rotary Club of Niagara Falls)
· Patricia Murenbeeld, Beth Fleeton, Annette Marchionda (Rotary Lakeshore)
· Stuart McCormack, Harry Claassen
· Graham McMillan (Rotary Club of NOTL)
· Graham Repei and Elaine Richard
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 this year's Participate for Polio.