Cochrane biker rides NWT to Montana for polio
For Release May 2025
Dan Paarsmarkt riding 1600 km to raise awareness and funding for polio
Cochrane – Cochrane resident and long distance cyclist Dan Paarsmarkt is raising awareness and funding for polio by riding his bike1600 kilometres from the Northwest Territories to Montana.
All donations/sponsorships from the ride will go towards providing polio vaccination programs around the world.
Through an arrangement with Rotary International, for every dollar Paarsmarkt raises, the Bill & Belinda Gates Foundation will kick in three.
The retired 61-year old will start pedalling from the NWT June 5, He plans on completing his ride in Cochrane on June 17, after riding up from the Montana border.
A few years ago Paarsmarkt was turned on to a form of long distance riding called Randonneuring, which is a recreational cycling niche that inspires riders to push beyond what they believed they were capable of, riding distances of 200 to 1200 kilometres.
He has done trips to Vancouver and Seattle, and has done 1200-km trips five times.
“Those were the five most difficult things I’ve done in my life,” Paarsmarkt said.
“You have a set distance and a set time. You pack all your gear, and it’s kind of like vacationing on the cheap,” he said.
Paarsmarkt chose polio as his cause as he observed how little progress was being made to eradicate it, despite ongoing efforts to raise vaccination rates to a level where herd immunity takes over.
He said even when vaccines are provided to some third-world countries, authoritarian anti-vaccine regimes sometimes forbid their citizens from receiving the vaccine.
“It’s an ongoing battle,” he said.
“I’m just trying to do my part to eradicate one disease and hopefully the rest of the world maintains their vaccine rates,” he said.
“The way the world’s going right now, I kind of hesitate to say I’m very hopeful we’re continuing with this, based on what’s happening south of the border.”
Convincing the anti-vaxxers to get on board is “a tough go” he said.
Paarsmarkt said it’s hard to fathom why some are still opposed to vaccines.
“If folks would see the results of not getting vaccinated . . . if you get polio and you get it bad, you end up in a wheel chair for the rest of your life,” he said.
To donate to Paarsmarkt’s ride for polio, or to get more information email: rotaryclubofcochrane@gmail.com.
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Media contact (to arrange interviews/photo ops along the ride): Hank Pilotte
Email: tconahank@gmail.com
Cell: 368-886-5925