Flight to End Polio continues through fundraising talks

After circumnavigating the globe to raise funds and awareness for the Rotary Foundation’s polio eradication efforts, pilots Peter Teahen, 70, of Robins, and John Ockenfels, 71, of Shueyville, returned home last July 30 — sort of.

They’ve been on the road, in the air and on the airwaves since Aug. 9, bringing their “We Believe” message to Rotary clubs, service clubs, community leaders and anyone else willing to create a fundraising event in-person in the United States or via Zoom anywhere in the world, including in the United States.

Background

“We Believe” has been the duo’s catchphrase since a news conference in Karachi, Pakistan, in early June 2023, when they were asked if they hoped to see polio eradicated. Teahen shocked onlookers when he said no.

“I said, ‘I don't have hope — I believe. Believing that we're ending polio is far more powerful than hope. … We now can start believing we're going to see the end of polio in the world.’ ”

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the two remaining hot spots where polio still is a viable threat, often due to poor water quality and sewage.

The men’s quest to raise funds and awareness, which began in 2019 and suffered three pauses due to the pandemic, finally took off from The Eastern Iowa Airport on May 5, 2023, and landed back there July 30. The two skilled pilots — Rotarians and members of the Fellowship of Flying Rotarians — spent more than 165 hours in the air, traveled 25,323 miles and made 39 landings in 21 countries.

Plagued with icy weather, airplane troubles and an intestinal illness that put Teahen in the hospital three times, the men — cousins by marriage — experienced more turbulence than they ever could have anticipated. But through the kindness of strangers every step of the way, they succeeded far beyond their wildest dreams.

What’s happened since

When they began kicking around pairing the polio fundraising idea with a rare flight around the world in a single-engine airplane, the two thought they might be able to raise $10,000. But as the idea took shape, they received a 2-for-1 match from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Despite the pandemic pauses, the dollars multiplied over the three-year period between when they planned to take off in 2020, and when they actually took off in 2023. By then, they had raised $1 million.

And now, that figure has doubled.

The total funds raised changes with every event at which the men speak, and they’ll never really know the full amount raised since some people send their donations directly to the Rotary Foundation, instead of through the pilots’ website, flighttoendpolio.com

That’s fine with them, since regardless where the donations originate, all money raised goes to Rotary Foundation’s polio education and vaccination efforts. The men paid their own way on the trek, aided by some equipment grants, and continue to pay their own way on the speaking circuit.

Recent talks in San Francisco, northern California and Las Vegas brought in $50,000, but Teahen and Ockenfels also are grateful for the more typical $1,000 donations, “a good ballpark number for the majority of what we’re doing,” Teahen said by phone from Plano, Texas, where the two were slated to give two presentations Feb. 21, along with a couple more stops in Texas.

“You know, it's not just the fundraising,” Ockenfels said on the same call with The Gazette. “It's never been about just fundraising. It's been about sharing the information, so the world understands that polio is still out there, and then it's sort of a worldwide effort to finally close that door.”

They’re closing in on 80 presentations about the trip, largely spreading by word-of-mouth, as well as through media and podcasts posted online. The biggest issue right now is condensing their presentation into 25 minutes, illustrated by slides.

“It's a daunting task,” Ockenfels said, “and all we can give them is a tip of the iceberg, and hopefully pique their interest to go look at some of the online information or go to the Rotary podcast.”

They speak about how the initiative started; how it progressed; the changing route; the challenges, especially on the long 15- to 17-hour flights; and of course, information about polio, its continued presence and eradication efforts.

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They also spend some time focusing on Karachi, Pakistan, not only because that’s one of remaining polio hot spots, but also because that’s where they spent a day in the field, administering polio vaccines to children — a highlight of the journey for both men.

“We try to keep it factual but also kind of upbeat,” Ockenfels said.

They also auction off the small Flight to End Polio flags they had people sign along the trip, which also raises funds for Rotary’s efforts.

The voyagers aren’t sure how long they’re going to continue the speaking circuit, but requests for presentations are stretching into 2025. With the prevalence of Zoom, they don’t anticipate traveling outside the United States, or even in the country for places they’d have to fly commercially for just a single presentation. They’re encouraging groups to partner with others nearby to make taking a commercial flight more viable.

They also are reaping benefits beyond dollar signs. They’ve met people who followed their journey daily online, and at presentations are hearing from people sharing their own polio journeys. Others are reaching out to ask about securing school-required vaccines or treatment for themselves or family members facing polio-related health issues later in life.

“Those are the benefits of this flight beyond what we had imagined, which makes this even more of a positive mission,” Teahen said.

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And when their spirits were flagging on the trip because of illness, weather delays and airplane breakdowns or fuel challenges, they were bolstered by “the amount of unwavering support,” Ockenfels said, including a free oil change in the Netherlands.

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“I never believed we’d get that many people that would jump out of nowhere to help,” he said. “That was the family of Rotary in action.”

And even though delays and changing air space regulations made them divert from their original plans, including some sightseeing visits, Ockenfels said: “I think in the long run, we actually came out better, because we met some really interesting people, and got to go to places we might not have gone to otherwise. It gave us the background for what we're doing today, and that's helping to spread the word.”

“It goes back to the whole concept — don't let your vision interrupt reality,” Teahen said, “because reality is far greater and more significant than everything you could ever envision.”

Comments: (319) 368-8508; diana.nollen@thegazette.com