All members of Rotary International world-wide will draw attention to their polio eradication efforts on October 24, fittingly the birthday of Dr. Jonas Salk, the scientist who spearheaded the development of the first polio vaccine.
In 1955, more than 10 million children received one or more injections of the Salk vaccine. Within one year, polio cases and deaths in the United States had been nearly halved, which continued and made polio eradication a possibility rather than a dream.
In 1985, Rotary International and several other partners came together to advocate for a world where no child would live in fear of being paralyzed by polio and live with heavy braces on their legs, or in an iron lung assisting chest muscles to move for every breath. The organizations have raised millions of dollars and provided millions of volunteers to cover the globe to personally immunize the world’s children.
Rotary has been joined by the World Health Organization, the Gates Foundation, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to form the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Today there are only two countries in the world with active polio cases – Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, we must remain vigilant. In our very mobile society, the virus can travel very quickly from country to country, so we must be sure that all children are vaccinated.
The Rotary Club of Jamestown is reaching out to invite everyone to accept a 90-day challenge to take at least one 10-minute walk each day. This is the local club’s way to support their goal to eradicate Polio in the world and support the Rotary Club of Jamestown. Starting October 24, 2024 (WORLD POLIO DAY), you pledge to donate $1.00 to END POLIO NOW for each day you purposefully walk 10 minutes or more. At the end of 90 days (January 21, 2025), you are asked to donate a 50/50 split between END POLIO NOW and the Rotary Club of Jamestown; ultimately the percentages you choose to donate are entirely yours to make.
Make your donations to the Rotary Club of Jamestown Community Service Fund (R.C.J.C.S.F.) End Polio Now, c/o Joni Blackman, Foundation Chairman, PO Box 732, Jamestown, NY 14702.
TOGETHER LET’S WALK POLIO OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH!
Additional events in Western New York and Canada to commemorate END POLIO NOW will include the October 24th lighting of the Electric Building, the Peace Bridge, and the Dome of Buffalo City Hall and on Saturday, October 26 at 7:30pm club members and the public will meet on the Canadian side to watch Niagara Falls be lit up!
On September 21, Rotary District 7090 comprising Western New York and Canada hosted its 5th annual “Participate for Polio” event raising $3,633 for the End Polio Campaign. Representatives from five clubs (including the Rotary Club of Jamestown) came together to walk, run and ride to raise those funds to fight polio.
Help Rotary END POLIO NOW!
