In just a few days, at the end of August 2023, Bashar Asfour's memorable European tour is set to begin. The project "My Journey to EndPolio" has a cause that every Rotarian is aware of.
We'll tell you more about Bashar later, as his story needs to be heard.
From August 31 to October 20, Bashar will travel through many European countries and meet with Rotarians in 30 districts. He will start his journey around Europe telling his story and reminding the fact that Polio anywhere, is a threat to children everywhere. The goal of the project, besides fundraising, is to raise awareness of Rotary and Rotarian Polio Cause among nonrotarians.
In Bulgaria, Bashar's car will pass on the 4th and 5th of October. He will enter Bulgaria through Kapitan Andreevo on October 4th. His route will go through Stara Zagora, Shipka, and Veliko Tarnovo, and he will leave the country through Ruse on October 5th.
One of Bashar's meetings with Bulgarian Rotarians will be at Shipka, beneath the historical peak of St. Nikola. The location has been chosen by local Rotary clubs. It is a remake, a restoration of another event with the same cause, held years ago.
On August 22, 2015, during the traditional celebration of the Shipka Epopee, the Ride for Polio tour also passed through here – motodrive led by District Governor of Rotary for Northern Greece, Georgios Christoforidis and members of Rotary clubs in Komotini and Rotary club Thessaloniki.
In 2015 the Rotarian rockers altered the route to get here and meet their Bulgarian Fellows. The cause was the same – promoting Rotary International's grand-scale project for a world free from poliomyelitis. We present a gallery of photos taken and provided by our fellow Plamen Ilarionov, Past president of Rotary club Gabrovo.