Photograph: Sarah Perry is ready for Rotterdam in April.
Many students move away from home to study but Sarah Perry has gone further than most in pursuit of an education at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen and is now going the extra mile to beat polio.
The international marketing student moved from West Virginia with the full support of the Rotary Club of Morgantown and is being hosted by the Rotary Club of Aberdeen St Nicholas. Determined to repay the favour, Sarah is not only studying hard and helping with Rotary projects, she is putting her best foot forward for polio: "As I came to understand more and more about Rotary’s worldwide push to rid polio from the final four endemic countries, it struck a chord and I wondered if there was something I could do to help with fundraising.
“Having been a keen runner when I was back in the States, one of the things I had already set my sights on was taking part in one of the big European mathathons while I was here. Then I wondered if I could incorporate this into getting sponsored and raising some funds for the End Polio Now campaign at the same time.
“I managed to get a place in the Rotterdam Marathon in April of this year and started my training in real earnest as although in 2010 I completed the Cincinnati Marathon in 4 hours and 2 minutes, this is my first international marathon and I am really hoping to go sub-4 hours and beat my previous personal best."
Sarah added: “I want to make sure I do my best in Rotterdam as I really want to honour those that I am running for, who have lost the ability to walk or run due to being struck down by the polio virus. I am, therefore, hoping that I can harness my contacts back home in West Virginia along with my new Scottish friends to help me raise as much money to be donated to Rotary’s ending polio programme. I am really looking taking part in Rotterdam and bringing home a sack full of pounds and dollars that I can donate to the cause.”
Sarah’s efforts for Rotary International’s End Polio Now campaign reached the highest office in Scotland when she met First Minister Alex Salmond, who just happened to speaking at one of the meetings Sarah was attending.
“I never thought for one minute that I would come to Scotland and have my efforts recognised by the First Minister," said a surprised and delighted Sarah, "It is a huge honour and simply makes me more determined to raise as much money as I possibly can to ensure that polio can no longer rob children of their ability to walk, run and play like so many other children around the world.”
Sarah has created a JustGiving page to help collect donations.
