The Rotary Club of Sidney by the Sea will mark historic progress toward a polio-free world on October 23 starting at 6:30 p.m. with a Polio Plus Light Up to be illuminated on the new Sidney Community Safety Building at 2245 Oakville Avenue.
The event is among thousands to be held by Rotary Clubs around the world to mark World Polio Day.
When Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative more than three decades ago, polio paralyzed 1,000 children every day. We’ve made great progress against the disease since then. Polio Cases have dropped by 99.9%, from 350,000 cases in 1988 in 125 countries to 33 cases of wild poliovirus in 2018 in just two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Rotary has contributed more then $1.9 billion to ending polio since 1985. With it nearly eradicated, Rotary and its partners must sustain the progress and continue to reach every child with the polio vaccine. Without full funding and political commitment, this paralyzing disease could return to polio-free countries, putting children everywhere at risk. Rotary has committed to raising US$50 million each year to support global polio eradication efforts. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged to match that 2-to-1, for a total yearly contribution of $150 million.
Our Club President, Ian Brown says: “Over the past 35 years, Rotarians have travelled the far reaches of the world to immunize children and have overcome the hostilities of war, crime, gangs and cultural objections but we remain steadfast in the mission of making polio the second disease in the world to be eradicated.”
Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders and problem solvers who unite and take action to create lasting change in communities around the globe. For more than 110 years, Rotary’s people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to improve lives through service. From promoting literacy and peace to providing clean water and improving health care, Rotary members are always working to better the world. Visit endpolio.org to learn more about Rotary and the fight to eradicate polio.
Since 1995 Sidney by the Sea Rotary has supported local Parkland and Stelly’s students with scholarships, the Air and Sea Cadets; Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank and ORCCA Dental Clinic.
Our 2019 raffle will benefit Hudson House and the Food Network Rescue. Join us for our weekly breakfast meeting on Thursdays at 7 a.m at the Shoal Centre: 10030 Resthaven Drive, Sidney. Visit us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/SidneyByTheSeaRotary/.
