In 2014 The Rotary Club of Madras created the Rotary Flame, a torch that travel from Chennai India around the globe in 2014 to the Rotary Convention in Brazil to honor India for being declared Polio Free. The torch was recently brought back to life as the Journey to Zero – End Polio Now Torch Tour, traveling through Zones 33 and 34 in route to the Zone Summit held in Pittsburgh, PA this past October. Just in time for an END POLIO NOW walk on World Polio Day with over 500 Rotarians and guests walking with RIP Stephanie Urchick, Dr. Peter Salk, IPPC Chair Mike McGovern, and PRIP John Germ.
Now Zone 33 End Polio Now Coordinators Colleen Bonadonna and Nancy Barbee are traveling with the torch across the USA to the Convention in Calgary, Camada to honor polio survivors and polio champions. Our goal with the Journey to Zero – End Polio Now Torch Tour, “On the Road to Calgary” is to raise awareness, educate, promote the Polio Plus Society, and raise funds for polio eradication. We will use the “Raise for Rotary” platform for fund raising. Your clubs and districts can form your own team in conjunction with our Journey to Zero – End Polio Now Torch Tour, to raise your polio contributions. Our goal is $1 million for Polio Plus.
Every mile we travel represents a commitment to making a difference in a child’s life. With your support, we can ignite change in communities and in funding initiatives. Your participation in the local events and sharing our mission, will help spread the word through local and social media. Together, we can light the way for those in need and inspire others to join our cause.

Let’s make this journey unforgettable! Join us in carrying the End Polio Now Torch and be a beacon of hope and service in your community as together, we can and will eradicate polio to illuminate the path to a brighter future for all the children of the world.
Below is the schedule for the cities we will be traveling to.
Date City Event/Club Contact
9-Jun St Louis, MS Larry Lunsford
10-Jun Evanston, IL RI Office Claire Monroe
11-Jun Minneapolis, MN Tom Gump
12-Jun Rapid City, SD
13-Jun Loveland, CO District Conference
15-Jun Salt Lake City, UT
16-Jun Boise, ID
17-Jun Seattle, WA
19-Jun Calgary Convention