World Polio Day: Rotary Club of Trenton fights to end polio worldwide

Oct. 24, 2011 - PRLog -- THE Trenton, MI CLUB HAS RAISED  THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN THE PAST YEARS FOR POLIO ERADICATION.

As part of Rotary’s most recent campaign to match a US$355 million challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with $200 million by June 2012, the humanitarian service organization is close to reaching its goal, with more than US$180 million raised to date. The funding will provide critical support to polio eradication activities in parts of Africa and South Asia.

Since 1985, Rotary has contributed more than $1 billion and countless volunteer hours to the protection of more than two billion children in 122 countries.    The disease remains endemic in four countries -- Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan -- although other countries remain at risk for imported cases.

Recently members of the Trenton club participated with district 6400 Flash Mob at a conference in Chicago to raise awareness for polio. “We really think we made a difference in Chicago by being a part of the flash mob and revealing our end polio now shirts,” said Tom Dickman, Trenton club president. “October 24 is a fine follow up to continue the quest for Polio awareness.” The Trenton club thought they would raise awareness by posting Polio trivia and facts on their Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin accounts on October 24. They asked that members get involved by simply re-tweeting, sharing or forwarding at least one of the various posts that they will do throughout the day. They are hoping for a viral response.

To raise awareness and funds for the global push to end polio, other Rotary clubs worldwide are conducting activities surrounding World Polio Day including: fundraising walks, pinkie painting parties and more.

A highly infectious disease, polio causes paralysis and is sometimes fatal.  As there is no cure, the best protection is prevention. For as little as US 60 cents worth of vaccine, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life.  After an international investment of more than US$8 billion, and the successful engagement of over 200 countries and 20 million volunteers, polio could be the first human disease of the 21st century to be eradicated.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is spearheaded by the World Health Organization, Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).  It includes the support of governments and other private sector donors.

Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide to provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. It is comprised of 1.2 million members working in more than 34,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographic regions.              
                                         
Rotary invites the public to support the polio eradication initiative by visiting http://www.rotary.org/endpolio .

For further information visit, http://www.rotary.org  or http://www.polioeradication.org.