A father-son duo set out to ride every train line in Sydney in one day to raise funds for Rotary’s End Polio campaign.
Image: Courtesy of ABC News
Dave Anderson is a Sydney Rail employee and proud Rotarian. Eight years ago, his passion for trains, combined with his connection to Rotary sparked an idea: a Train Ride to End Polio.
Together with his father, Mark Anderson, they have raised close to $800,000 over eight years. Their goal this year, timed with World Polio Day on 24 October, is to push their fundraising total past the $1 million mark.
Visiting every train station in Sydney in one day is no small feat. This logistical challenge means visiting more than 195 stations, boarding 28 trains and clocking over 18.5 hours to achieve the outcome. Dave handles the logistics, while Mark sounds the call to local Rotary Clubs to get involved. En route, the duo is often joined by a wave of red ‘End Polio’ t-shirts, as Rotarians come out to join the ride. Last year, over 500 Rotarians attended.
Polio may be fading from memory in Australia, with the last case of wild polio recorded in 1972, but the disease remains a threat in other parts of the world. Rotary’s global End Polio Now campaign has helped reduce cases by 99% since 1985, yet the fight isn’t over.
The Train Ride to End Polio will take place on Friday 24 October 2025. To follow their journey or donate, visit beecroftrotary.com.au/train-ride-to-end-polio or Instagram @beecroftrotary.