Pedaling for PolioPlus Rotaractors make a big splash with their amphibious cycle.

"Dutch Rotaractor Wimar Jaeger never could have guessed that his offbeat idea – cooked up with a friend, Jan Berbee-would culminate in a media event that would set a world record and raise U.S. $210,000 for PolioPlus. This is his first-hand account of a project that captured the imagination of thousands – and propelled Rotaract into the international spotlight."

It all started as a crazy idea between two friends. Back in 1985, Jan and I were sitting in an outdoor cafι sharing our thoughts on how to raise funds for Rotaract projects. We knew it would have to be something different to draw attention to our cause. Then we came up with an idea - we would swim across the English Channel!

The idea was so popular that 36 Rotaractors wanted to participate. We realized the safest way to accommodate so many people was to devise some form of amphibious cycle that could be pedalled by 36 people. A year later, Jan and I took a leave of absence from school to work full-time on the project. Many people – including some local Rotarians – were sceptical that the project would succeed. But we held onto our idealism and hope, believing in the possibilities of our plan.

We worked out of a makeshift trailer that served as our office and home base. Members of our two Rotaract clubs – Heemstede and Hillegom-Lisse – formed S.T.O.P. (Stichting Tet Ondersteuning van Poliobestrijding) a foundation for the eradication of polio. Our goal was to raise U.S. $ 250,000 to sponsor three immunization teams in Burkina Faso, a small country in West Africa. We chose this country because its child mortality rate is one of the highest in the world – 25 percent of all children die before the grade of one. Burkina Faso recently received a PolioPlus grant of $410,000 from Rotary International.

The two Rotaract clubs were divided into seven committees to handle specific responsibilities, ranging from mechanical care of the amphibious cycle to publicity and promotion. We approached the government, private sector, and public for support. We sent out a mailing of 10,000 letters and publicized our effort in the newspapers and television. After one month, we received $ 50,000 worth of materials from business sponsors to start us off.

We then requested the assistance of the Haarlem Institute for Advanced Technical Studies in designing the cycle. Supervised by experts, 70 Rotaractors worked literally night and day to prepare the vehicle for its public launch on 27^th January 1987. Club members welded four rows of nine bicycles onto a frame, which was then attached to a chassis between two "floaters". This innovative construction allows the cycle to be pedalled over both land and water. We worked 24 hours a day in different shifts for five weeks to finish the cycle just 16 hours before its maiden launch. The craft was christened by members of the Dutch royal family before the press and television cameras. It was a proud moment for all of us.

During the next two months, we participated in several events and exhibitions to raise funds and publicity. Corporations paid for advertising which was placed on the sides of the cycle. The prime minister of Holland, the royal prince, and several Dutch ministers all took turns pedalling. Our theme was, "Cycling is pedalling against polio."

Not every part of the project was smooth sailing. Three days before the international tour, the cycle was to participate in a promotional event in the Thames River. But as the craft was lifted into the water, two slings broke and the vehicle fell about four metres (13 feet)... .I nearly fainted. But with Jan’s help and encouragement, the cycle was repaired and ready for take-off four days later.

The international tour would begin in Canterbury (England), continue to Dover, cross the English Channel to Calais (France), on to Dunkirk (France), Brugge (Belgium), and end in Heemstede (Holland). Some 285 companies sponsored the tour and we would collect funds along the way. Rotaractors from 22 clubs in all four countries offered to host us and arrange promotional activities.

On 15^th July, we embarked on our historic journey. We travelled with 11 cars, seven buses, one ambulance (just in case), a lorry, a mobile kitchen, and a mobile administration office. Forty-eight members of the Heemstede and Hillegom-Lisse clubs volunteered to pedal the cycle. Hey had trained for months to be physically fit and ready.

The big day was 24^th July – the crossing of the English Channel. After a delay due to bad weather, we prepared for the launch before a group of reporters and cameras. Our captain was a Dover Rotarian, Mike Bodiam, who inspired us with his complete faith in the project. It was a cold day; there was tension in the air as we set off under skies threatening rain. We felt tiny as we churned through an immense expanse of water. In spite of the pressure, spirits were high as we sang songs and pedalled. When we saw the coast of France, the excitement was so great that the speed of the cycle immediately increased. Our crossing time was five hours, 23 minutes – a world record! In Calais, many parents celebrated the safe journey of their children. The group rejoiced until late into the night – no one made it up until noon the next day.

Buoyed by our success, we started the next leg of our journey – the tour by land. This was actually the most difficult part of the trip, having to pedal day after day for three weeks. Along the route, we were greeted by fellow Rotaractors and well-wishers. It was 15^th August when we arrived in Heemstede – we had finally realized our "impossible" dream.

In that time, we had raised $ 210,000 for our cause. About $ 200,000 will be used for immunization in Burkina Faso. The cost of the amphibious cycle was $ 65,000 ($40,000of which was covered by sponsors). This leaves about $ 15,000 that we still must raise to cover our expenses.

The project has received coverage in more than 1,000 articles, and will be included in the "Guiness Book of World Records." Even more important than the recognition are the friends mad3 along the way, and the new awareness of Rotary’s PolioPlus Program.

Although a lot of work has been accomplishes, or real job is just beginning. This month, the second immunization team will begin its work in Burkina Faso. We are working in cooperation with the Save the Children Fund (Holland), World Health Organization, UNICEF, and Rotary International. A number of Dutch Rotaractors plan to travel to Burkina Faso to assist in the actual immunization. We are grateful to have this opportunity to make a real contribution to the world. Our next goal is to see that the cycle travels to every Rotaract country. This would fulfil a dream started over two years ago – and raise even more funds for PolioPlus.

Through this project I have learned that almost anything is possible!

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Wilmer Jaeger is a member of the Rotaract Club of Heemstede
This article was printed in the February 1988 edition of The Rotarian magazine, and was supplied to the Rotary Global History by Rotary International Archivist Robin Dillow