Rotarians gearing up for World Polio Day

By Dan Nixon
Rotary News -- 15 October 2012

Rotarians in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, are once again organizing a World Polio Day walk and rally to promote support for the campaign to wipe out the disease. Photo courtesy of Chris Offer

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Rotarians are getting ready to launch events linked to World Polio Day, 24 October, in support of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

Led by RI President Sakuji Tanaka, International PolioPlus Committee Chair Robert Scott, and Rotary Foundation Trustee Stephanie Urchick, delegates to the Rotary institute for zones 24-32 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, will take part in a downtown walk and rally on 19 October. One hundred of the participants will carry signs bearing the End Polio Now message.

In District 1090 (England), District Governor Judith Diment plans a World Polio Day drive-athon, in which she will travel to each of the district’s 62 clubs. “Rotarians will be giving out the new district Rotary newspaper, which leads with a polio story, as well as collecting funds and briefing the local media,” says Diment, who is the PolioPlus National Advocacy Adviser for the United Kingdom. “On 28 October, we are having a Rotary Polio Day at a rugby match, where we will give out newspapers and collect money for polio.”

Rotarians in Pakistan are publishing a four-page supplement in The News, the leading English-language daily newspaper, which is circulated nationwide. “This will help us create awareness and also project the role of Rotary in polio eradication,” says Aziz Memon, chair of the Pakistan PolioPlus Committee.

Here are ways you can support the global effort to eradicate polio:

Take part in a social media campaign to increase Rotary’s voice on World Polio Day by signing on to send a mass message through Twitter and Facebook.
Lend your voice to advocacy efforts by signing the petition on endpolionow.org.
Be part of the “World’s Biggest Commercial” online on World Polio Day. View the promotional video.
Purchase End Polio Now, an album of songs performed by Rotary polio ambassadors, to be released on World Polio Day. The album will be available as a digital download through iTunes and as a CD from shop.rotary.org.
Begin planning an End Polio Now lighting to celebrate Rotary's anniversary on 23 February.
Contribute now to end polio.

12 Comments:

At 9:58AM on 24 October 2012, Jason Yeung wrote: Like in any marathon, the last mile is the hardest, faith and determination will get you there.

At 9:56AM on 24 October 2012, Sulaiman kabir Abiodun wrote: Kudos to Rotary for fighting,eradicating and eliminating this deadly disease out of the world.

At 3:06PM on 23 October 2012, Patricia Ryde wrote: We will get this done!!! Rotarians, don't miss out on the opportunity to be able to say, "We eliminated Polio and I helped."

At 10:17AM on 23 October 2012, Roger Graves wrote: Please also see www.rotaryglobalswimarathon.org for details of the World's Biggest Swim to End Polio - this event is open to all Clubs worldwide to hold a swimming event on 23rd Feb 2013 - in 2012 we raised US$105,000 we are looking to raise US$1million in 2013. Good luck - Roger Graves, Chair of Event

At 10:44AM on 22 October 2012, Thomas Adeyemi wrote: The time to end polio is now !!! As Rotarians we most do everything possible to end polio so that our efforts will not be in vain.

At 9:49AM on 22 October 2012, 'Wunmi Oyewole RC Agege wrote: Quodos to Rotary for fighting Against the Deadly thing. I just pray that Rotary would be able to see the fight to a very successful end.

At 9:48AM on 22 October 2012, Rtn. M.A.Rahman RFSM wrote: We are ready to launched events linked to world polio day on the 24th October in our District 3280 in a befitting manner.

At 9:22AM on 19 October 2012, Raman Jain wrote: Its a great effort and contribution by the Rotarians worldwide to initiate the movement of global Polio eradication programme. This message should be conveyed globally to best possible reach so that the awareness of this programme reaches to all. Best wishes to every individual associated with this movement.

At 12:50PM on 18 October 2012, Pedro Ola Tubi wrote: My fellow District 9100/Nigerian Rotarians , here is another opportunity to increase our stake and effort in the Global Eradication Initiative. The time to act and END POLIO is NOW! Best wishes in all our endeavours. The lastest ingestion of US$75 million to the effort is commended. Thanks Rotary.

At 3:56PM on 16 October 2012, DrO wrote: Polio has been almost eliminated in my lifetime. It is very hard to believe. As a child, I watched family and friends struggling with damages of polio. As an adult, I walked among new cases of polio in The Sudan, Africa. This is absolutely amazing and we must not drop the ball on this mission.

At 9:55AM on 16 October 2012, christian iradukunda wrote: wish you all the best

At 12:51PM on 15 October 2012, Mike Parry wrote: Best wishes to everyone increasing the global awareness on World Polio Day. On the 24th, I will be meeting a journalist from the Western Mail - the regional Newspaper of Wales - to talk about Rotary & the End Poilo Now programme. Mike Parry Zone 17 - End Polio Now Coorginator

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