Hand cyclist Ramesh Ferris accepted donations from local Rotary Clubs on his cross-Canada Cycle to Walk ride to help eradicate polio.

Ferris began his campaign in Victoria on April 12 with the goal of raising funds to help eradicate polio through Rotary International's PolioPlus immunization program and help with the rehabilitation of victims worldwide as well  as to help educate people about polio.

"This tour is not about racing from one end of the country to the other," said Ferris. "It's about raising awareness and educating people about this disease."

Born in India in 1979, Ferris knows the effects of polio first hand; having contracted the disease at six months, leaving him paralyzed. Having no access to the rehabilitative supports he needed, Ferris' mother left him in the care of the Families for Children orphanage. Ferris was adopted by the Anglican Bishop of Yukon, Ron Ferris and his wife Jan and learned to walk with crutches for the first time at age four.

Ferris did not meet his biological mother until he returned to India in 2002. Realizing the reality for many polio survivors in developing countries, Ferris decided to raise money to make a difference and help to eradicate polio, a dream that is becoming reality thanks to widespread immunization programs run Rotary International and the World Health Organization.

Though these programs have helped to reduce the number of polio cases worldwide by 99 per cent in the past 20 years, they need a $ 4 billion global investment to completely eradicate polio.

"There is no cure for polio, but there is something better: a vaccine," said Ferris. "If we choose not to eradicate polio, up to 10 million children could be paralyzed by it over the next 40 years."

While on his bike tour, Ferris met Meaford resident Jim Razeau who recently biked across Canada for Sick Kids Hospital and he came out to support Ferris at his Meaford stop.

"Jim and I were able to exchange words of encouragement for our causes," said Ferris of his meeting with Razeau. "I was very happy to meet him."

Ferris' Meaford stop was followed by a public bike ride from Thornbury to Collingwood last Thursday.

Ferris will be continuing his tour until he reaches Cape Spear, Newfoundland on October 1st.