Polio Awareness & Fundraiser

Poliomyelitis (Polio) is a crippling and potentially fatal disease that still threatens children in parts of the world. The poliovirus invades the nervous system and can cause paralysis in a matter of hours. It can strike at any age but mainly affects children under five.

Today, there are only three countries that have never stopped transmission of the wild poliovirus: Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Fewer than 250 polio cases were reported worldwide in 2012, which is a 99% reduction since the 1980s, when the world saw about 1,000 cases per day. If we don't stay the course, experts say polio could rebound to 10 million cases in the next 40 years.

In 1985, Rotary launched its PolioPlus program and since then Rotary and its partners have helped reduce the number of annual cases from 350,000 to fewer than 250. Additional funding will help to end polio now. Thanks to a new campaign, every dollar donated to Rotary will be matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Pelham Rotarians, just as Rotarians around the world, remain committed to contributing to the PolioPlus Fund until every child is safe from the disease. This year, Pelham Rotarians not only made personal contributions to the PolioPlus Fund, the Pelham Club also brought Polio eradication awareness to the community by raising money for the PolioPlus Fund through fundraisers such as selling Crocus' during the Wildlife Festival and at local businesses as well as selling chili during the Light Up Rotary/Rotary Day event.