Submitted by the Rotary

On Oct. 24, the Rotary celebrated World Polio Day to help raise awareness and the funding we need to reach full eradication. Since its formation in 2003, the Rotary Club of San Juan Islands has donated over $70,000 to ending polio. Members contribute $1,000 annually thrConcours d’Elegancegance. In addition, this year members gave $1,000 to campaign for Peking to Paris Endurance Motor Challenge, which is a 10,000-mile race to bring awareness to the End Polio Now program. They also gave $5,000 through club and individual giving.

In 30 years, the world has gone from 125 polio-endemic countries to three — Nigeria, Afghanistan, andPakistan — immunizing over 2.5 billion children. Yet, without full funding and political commitment, thisparalyzing disease could return to previous polio-free countries, putting children everywhere at risk.

Consider a donation to Rotary Foundation’s PolioPlus Fund at rotary.org/endpolio. Gifts will be matched 2-1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Help Rotary members see this fight to the end.