"Rotary Family Fun Day" - Fun Bike/Walk and Blood Drive

In supporting Rotary International’s "End Polio NOW" Program, 14 Rotary Clubs in Bali organized a Rotary Family Fun Day on Sunday, 30 May 2010. The Rotary Club of Bali Denpasar (the first club established in Bali in 1985) coordinated this activity-packed morning. It was supported by RCs of Bali Denpasar Kota, Bali Kartika, Bali Kuta, Bali Legian, Bali Lovina, Bali Niti Mandala, Bali Nusa Dua, Bali Sanur, Bali Segara, Bali Seminyak, Bali Taman, Bali Ubud, and Bali Ubud Sunset. This event was an extraordinary collaboration amongst these Rotary Clubs in Bali.

The Spirit of the Rotary Family Fun Day started on the eastern side of the Renon (Denpasar) Community Park on Saturday, 29 May 2010. A final technical meeting was completed at the site which was attended by both Rotarians and Rotaractors (18 – 30 years old) alike. Telephone calls, emails, and blackberry messengers were continuously going back and forth until late at night. This was needed to ensure that the Sunday program would run smoothly.

On Sunday morning, rain softly sprinkled down, but this didn't dampen the spirits of the Rotarians, family, and participants who came to Renon. Denpasar mayor, Ida Bagus Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra accompanied by District Governor-elect (DGE) Al Purwa from the RC of Bali Kuta, opened the Fun Bike program with 2,500 enthusiastic bike lovers. What a beautiful view this was.

After this, Made Suteja, Division Head of the Department of Health, representing Governor Mangku Pastika, waved a green flag signaling the start of Fun Walk. It was estimated that nearly 4,000 participants were in attendance. All the participants enthusiastically waved their red "End Polio NOW" flags as they started their walk. It looked like an ocean of red.

The Renon area changed from a green park into a red, yellow, blue, and white kaleidoscope of colors. There were tents, Rotary flags and banners flooded with Rotarians and participants. Everyone proudly wore a red "End Polio NOW" T-shirt.

In addition to the Fun Bike and Fun Walk activities, the organizing committee invited the Blood Transfusion Unit of the Sanglah Public Hospital to encourage the public to donate their blood. The RC of Bali Taman, located in Sanur, also had their well-known Women’s Mobile Health Clinic available to register women who wanted FREE medical checkup.

For children, there was a drawing and coloring contest for all ages. The RC of Bali Denpasar invited a number of ‘foster’ children from the Sembung Sobangan area to participate in this wonderful day. These children are part of an ongoing club project known as the "Pelangi Bali Kids" program. Many prizes, including cash, were given to the lucky winners.

Lastly, the Rotary "1,000 Eyeglasses for Bali students" program distributed free eyeglasses to students from the Dwijendra Junior High School. Hopefully, with these new glasses the students will be able improve their grades in all subject areas.

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