By Jessie Harman, past Rotary International director and chair of Rotary Foundation Australia
In April, I stood at 4,400 meters (14,435 feet) taking in the incredible view from Dingboche. The previous day’s chill had turned to snow and we’d been walking in sub-zero temperatures. I was feeling well, no obvious effects of the altitude – and hoping it would stay that way. As Everest Base Camp got closer, I reflected on how Rotary’s goal of a polio-free world was also getting closer. When my legs got weary, that thought spurred me on.
I reached Everest Base Camp, the goal of my challenge, two days later. Everything about it was incredible – the landscape, the challenge, and the opportunity to raise funds to support Rotary’s polio eradication campaign.
Raising funds was important for me. I used Rotary’s Raise for Rotary platform with all its benefits; simple to set up, funds straight to PolioPlus, shareable via social media. I shared my journey via Facebook and Instagram and collected supporters along the way. The generosity of people is inspiring, and by the end, my supporters had donated more than AUD $30,000 (about US$20,000).
The trek itself was demanding. I’ve completed many long-distance hikes, but this one was the hardest. Ahead of the trek, I walked 6 kilometres (about 3.7 miles) every day for 60 days and made that part of my campaign. However, even with the preparation, the walk to Everest Base Camp was physically and emotionally tough. There were days when I wondered whether I would ever make it.
I walked as part of a small team, and the companionship helped a lot. We were a diverse group of Australian Rotarians and supporters, each of us trekking for different reasons, all of us raising funds for polio eradication.
Finally, one step after another, we made it to our destination. No words can adequately describe the sense of accomplishment I felt on reaching Everest Base Camp, nor can they do justice to the beauty of the landscape around me. Everywhere I looked, the snow-capped 8,000-meter (26,000-foot) Himalayan peaks towered above me, taking my breath away.
I had plenty of time on those Everest foothills to think about why polio eradication is so important for me. It’s definitely about the children – no child should suffer needlessly – but it’s also about our willingness to pursue an audacious goal, with courage, resourcefulness, and tenacity. That’s the very essence of Rotary for me.
Having reached my Everest Base Camp goal, I am more determined than ever that we will reach Rotary’s goal of zero polio cases forever. But this last stage is the hardest and we need your ongoing support. Please donate to help Rotary eradicate polio at: https://raise.rotary.org/Walk_Strong/challenge815/
How are you celebrating World Polio Day? Find resources at endpolio.org.
https://blog.rotary.org/2025/10/07/trekking-to-everest-base-camp-to-end-polio/