2016-11-01 Race Across America for Polio

 
Team Rotary RAAMs Polio
By Bob McKenzie - RC of Tulsa (District 6110)
 
My idea in doing the Race Across America is to raise awareness about Polio and MONEY to help “End Polio Now”. 
 
2017 will be our second year to compete.  We hope to do a better job of raising money for Polio this time around.  We raised over $100,000 in 2016, which became $300,000 with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation match. 
 
By getting each Rotarian in your district to give just $31 dollars to commemorate the 31 years that Rotary has worked to eradicate Polio we can raise $10 million.
 
All funds given will count toward your district's total for Polio!!  We just ask that you email us with the total so we can report it to RAAM.  This will further increase the profile of Rotary and the awareness of its effort to eradicate Polio.
 
Here is a great video from Rotary International’s End Polio Now campaign: https://www.facebook.com/EndPolioNow/videos/10155480335639552/

Please let me know about your successat: rlyonm@cox.net  or if you have questions, please email me or call 918-694-0480.

In the Best Bonds,
Bob McKenzie
 
Meet The Team
Andy Zemann
Austria

Andy Zemann is an Associated Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. Besides chemistry and road biking, Andy plays guitar in a local rock'n'roll band. Andy grew up in Salzburg, the hometown of Mozart, which may explain his passion for music.

Andy is a founding member of the Rotary Club Telfs-Seefeld, a joint club of 2 towns near Innsbruck, where he already served in various functions, such as president and secretary.  His club already supported the Rotary Polio Team fundraising efforts during RAAM 2016.
 
Bob McKenzie
USA, Oklahoma

Bob joined the Rotary Club of Tulsa in 1994.  He has served as chairman of many of their committees including the Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Awards.  He served as President of the club in 2010-11 and has been an assistant governor for his Rotary district #6110.

Bob starting riding a road bike in August, 2011 to ride for Rotary’s “Ride to End Polio” in El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, AZ.  In the five year he has ridden in El Tour he has raised over $400,000 for Rotary’s Polio eradication effort.

Some of Bob’s favorite rides are Tulsa Tough Gran Fondo Ace in Tulsa, OK, El Tour de Tucson, and Cochise County Cycling Classic’s 165 mile event in Douglas, AZ.

Bob was run over by a motorcycle in 2011 and of course, at the hospital, he was worried about his bicycle!!

He is our oldest rider and newest to the sport of cycling.
Kurt Matzler
Italy

Kurt is a management professor at the Free University of Bozen in Italy and joined the Rotary Club Goldenes Dachl in Innsbruck, Austria in 2011. He grew up in South Tyrol, the heart of the Alps and home to the Dolomites. His passions include road cycling and mountain biking in summer, and – of course! – skiing in winter. Both ardent cyclists, he and his wife Ruth are equally happy to tackle the long and steep Alpine passes as they are to bike along the beautiful roads winding through Tuscany's vineyards -- where they also enjoy sampling the local products :-)

Kurt is a seven-time finisher of the legendary Ötztaler Radmarathon, a 150 mile-long course with more than 16,000 feet of climbing, and has twice participated in the Great Trial of Strength in Norway – a 340 mile-long race from Trondheim to Oslo. Kurt participated in the Race Across America 2016 as part of 4-person Rotary Team. Their efforts raised $300,000 to eradicate polio.
Steve Schoonover
USA, Utah

Steve is a VP of Product Development and a newly accepted Rotary member of the Draper-Riverton Rotary Club in Riverton, UT. Steve grew up in the United States, but has also lived in Canada and Germany. Currently residing in Salt Lake City, home of the 2002 Winter Olympics, he takes advantage of the mountains through his passion for road cycling and mountain biking. During the winter months, you’ll find him snowshoeing through the endless mountain trails. Additionally, he enjoys hiking the beautiful Wasatch mountain trails with his wife.

Steve has competitively raced as an amateur over the years and won the Utah State Masters Overall Points competition in 2012. He is a 6-time finisher of LOTOJA – the longest sanctioned one-day race in America at 206 miles, as well as a 3-time finisher in the 108 miles 12,500 feet of climbing Queen Stage of the Tour of Utah – claimed by many pro racers to be one of the toughest stage races in America. Steve was not only grateful for the opportunity but experienced great joy being a part of the 4-person Rotary Team successfully completing the Race Across America in 2016.
 
 
Team Rotary RAAMs Polio
 
A few facts about RAAM:
  • Start: Oceanside, California – Oceanside Pier, Relay Teams – Saturday, June 17th
  • Finish: Annapolis, Maryland – City Dock June 24th
  • Total Days: Goal is 7 days
  • Route: 3000 miles, 170,000 feet of climbing
  • Crosses 12 states, passes through 88 counties and 350 communities
  • Team Rotary RAAM’s: 4 riders, 8-9 crew, and four vehicles that will move across the country at 17 to 20 mph.  Will be riding around the clock in shifts.
Team Rotary RAAMs Polio elite cyclists represent three countries and each has multiple cycling accomplishments.  Let us share with you more about each of them.