Early in 2011, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation contributed $355 million in an effort to eliminate the remaining rates of polio, and have challenged Rotarians all over the world to raise another $200m.

One dedicated Rotarian, Rob Byrne from Grafton has spent the last six months of his life cycling across eastern Australia visiting Rotary Clubs and raising awareness of polio.

When Mr Byrne arrived in Goulburn on Wednesday to visit the Rotary Club of Goulburn, he had cycled in excess of 4000 kilometres and visited 75 Rotary Clubs.

“A lot of the clubs are doing some really good fundraising for it,” Mr Byrne said, adding that all together he has collected well over $50,000 for the cause.

Starting from Grafton in northern NSW, Mr Byrne then cycled to Cairns in Far North Queensland. He is currently in the second leg of his journey which will take him from Grafton to Melbourne, Victoria.

“The reason why I’m doing this is because we’re really close to getting rid of the disease worldwide. The key thing making the difference is funding,” Mr Byrne said.

“I remember polio because I grew up around it. When I was at school almost every classroom had someone with polio and if we don’t win the fight it will come back.”

Working closely with such organisations as the World Health Organisation, Mr Byrne said that it was an achievable goal to eliminate polio worldwide by mid 2013.

“This is by far the biggest public health program ever undertaken,” he said, adding that it was also Rotary International’s biggest project, with $1 billion being donated by Rotary over the last 25 years.

Mr Byrne described the ride so far as being “an absolute joy” and said that the support he had received to be spectacular.

To make a donation to the End Polio Now campaign visit www.rotary.org and click the ‘End Polio Now’ button at the bottom of the page.

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