Rotary International has been leading the charge to eradicate polio throughout the world dating back to 1985. Since its involvement over $8 billion has been raised and polio has been eradicated in all but four countries.
The campaign is in its final stages and it's hoped the battle can be won in the next three years. If so, it will be the second time in history, after smallpox, that man has eliminated a disease across the world. Joining Rotary in its battle against polio is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has already contributed over $500 million and announced recently it will match two for one for every new dollar Rotary contributes to the polio eradication campaign up to $35 million per year through 2018.
During its recent fundraising drive, members of the Rotary Club of Tsawwassen donated over $3,800 to the End Polio Now Campaign. With the matching grant from the Gates Foundation, the community effort turns into $11,400, which will help inoculate over 19,000 children.
SDSS Interact, a Rotary-sponsored group of Tsawwassen high school students dedicated to service within the community and abroad, held an End Polio Now awareness campaign designed to educate a generation that has not been touched by the disease and may not know much about it.
To help in the fight to eradicate polio, you can make a donation to the Rotary Foundation through the Rotary Club of Tsawwassen by contacting foundation chair John Charbonneau at 604-818-2840.
