Rotarians have been on extended walks around town the past few weeks for a very good reason. October is Walk for Polio month as Rotary International strives to eradicate polio in the world.
On World Polio Day, October 24, local Rotarians were urging community members to get behind the cause and help them win this battle.
Foundation Director John Clue said the fight against Polio began in 1979.
“Through decades of commitment and work by Rotary and our partners, more than 3 billion children have received the oral polio vaccination,” John said.
“Rotary members have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this paralysing disease,” he said.
“Our goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever. Today, polio remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
While members of the Rotary Club of Castlemaine are doing their modest bit to assist with the fundraising, they are heartened that the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation is matching every dollar raised with an additional $2 which gives a massive boost to their efforts.
Club President Trevor Bray says that this is a wonderful example of how Rotary makes an impact world-wide.
“This quest to eradicate polio started with Rotary and very soon will end thanks to Rotary.”
Anyone wanting to help boost the fundraising efforts of Rotary’s Castlemaine Strollers team can do so through an online portal: https://www.rotarywalkwithus.org/
Scroll through to select the Castlemaine Strollers team or donate for Rotary’s number one global project being the eradication of polio from the world.
