The sunny weather saw two enthusiastic groups of cyclists assemble outside the Estoi Pousada at 9.30. The groups both did challenging 40 kilometre round trips, returning to a local Estoi café for a well deserved coffee.

Due to Covid, the 2020 bike ride could not take place. Not to be deterred RCEPI held a “Virtual End Polio Now” Bike Ride. Our webmaster, Richard Thorpe, set up a fun animation featuring the faces of various Club members tackling an obstacle course on their bikes. This was well received and donations and sponsorship from this and the “real” bike ride raised a total of 955 euros. Well done to everyone who took part and contributed and RCEPI are very grateful to Paul Beesley from Activity Algarve Bike Rides for organizing the cyclists.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation joined the polio fight in 2013 and match two-to-one, every dollar the Rotary Foundation commits to reduce the funding shortfall for polio eradication. This means the RCEPI contribution will actually be 2865 euros. Rotarians worldwide have helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries. For as little as $0.60, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life. As a result of this huge campaign India was declared Polio free in 2012. At this time, polio only remains active in 2 countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

For further information on RC Estoi Palace International contact moc@estoipalace.org, www.rotaryestoipalace.org and for Activity Bike Rides https://www.facebook.com/activityalgarvebikerides/