CENTRE WELLINGTON – In the midst of a global pandemic, Rotary International has not forgotten its pledge to eradicate polio from the world.
And the Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora hasn’t forgotten either.
Which is why despite the pandemic, the club is forging ahead with its End Polio Now awareness and fundraising campaign.
“For more than 30 years the organization decided to eliminate polio worldwide and year by year we’ve raised funds,” said club president Rob Galloway in an interview.
“We’re getting close to the end. We’re down to two countries and minimal cases. We can see the light.”
Poliomyelitis is a paralyzing virus that attacks the nervous system and can cause total paralysis within hours. It can strike anyone, but children under five are particularly susceptible.
While there is no cure for polio, there is a vaccine, and when every child in the world is vaccinated, the polio virus will be eradicated.
Rotary International has committed to raise $50 million a year for polio eradication and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged to match every Rotary donation two-to-one, for a total of $150 million per year for three years.
Those funds will purchase vests for volunteers administering vaccines, carriers to keep the polio vaccine at the proper temperature, and purple finger markers when children have been vaccinated.
The funds are also used to prepare and distribute informational material, assist in transporting the vaccine and provide other logistical support to medical practitioners on the ground.
Locally, before the pandemic, the club would invite speakers and hold fundraising events in the days leading up to World Polio Day on Oct. 24.
And though there will be no public speakers this year, there are two fundraiser the club hopes local folks will support: Pints for Polio at the Elora Brewing Company and, new this year, Pies for Polio with Fergie’s Fine Foods in Fergus.
For any pint that’s purchased and consumed at the Elora Brewing Company on Oct. 22, the brewing company will contribute to the campaign.
And for any meat pie that’s picked up from Fergie’s Fine Food on Oct. 22, the bakery will contribute to the campaign. Pies must be pre-ordered by Oct. 19.
“We’re thrilled to have them both on board,” said Rotary board member and past president Leanne Iravani. “Especially since the pandemic has been hard on them, too.”
The club will also raise the End Polio Now flag on the community flagpole in Elora to raise awareness and remind people to support the local effort on Oct. 22.
“And it’s very timely with COVID-19,” Galloway said.
“People understand vaccines and how they work. And we’re very close to the end of polio. We will eradicate this.”
