On
New Year’s Day, as the hardy “polar bears” gathered at the edge of Lake George
to jump into the frosty water, among them were 20 area Rotarian “Polio Bears”
who’d raised $25,000 for PolioPlus Partners, a program of Rotary International.
Since 1988, when its polio eradication efforts began, Rotary International has
been a spearheading partner in the fight to end the disease. Before the campaign
to eliminate polio, about 1,000 children a day were paralyzed by this terrible
disease. These children were left to a life of struggle and disability, and
often of social stigma. Today, only four countries are still polio-endemic, and
annual cases of polio paralysis are down to about 1,000 a year.
Rotarians have responded to the call for help, raising more than $600 million to
support polio eradication in 122 countries. They’ve saved the lives of thousands
of children through the polio vaccine and the vitamin supplements distributed
with it.
Some of this year's participants included Harriet Noble (Rotary Dist 7190
District Governor), Mike Popolizio (District
7190 District Governor Elect), John Rubino (President, Shenendehowa Rotary)
and Richard Hodge (Latham Rotary) as well as a host of Rotarians to provide
encouragement.
Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders working
to improve the quality of life for all people. The
Rotary Club of
Shenendehowa meets for breakfast every Thursday at 7:15 AM at
Coburg
Village Retirement Facility, corner of Grooms and Vischer Ferry Roads. The
public is welcome to attend. For more information call Edward Brown 371-9207.
