The Rotary Club of Lincoln plans activities to help eradicate polio worldwide

[October 23, 2014]  LINCOLN - To raise awareness and critically-needed funds to fight the crippling disease polio, the Rotary Club of Lincoln, IL is planning a “Pennies for Polio” campaign that local community members can help support.

This “Pennies for Polio” Campaign comes at an important time in the fight to eradicate polio, which would be only the second human disease to be eradicated. Case numbers of the disease have never been lower, and only three countries (Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan) have never stopped transmission of the wild poliovirus.

However, a funding gap means immunization campaigns are being cut in high-risk countries, leaving children more vulnerable to polio. If polio isn’t stopped now, the disease could stage a comeback, affecting an estimated 200,000 children every year.

Rotary, a humanitarian service organization with nearly 34,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas, made polio eradication its top priority in 1985. Rotary has since contributed US$1.2 billion, and its members have logged countless volunteer hours to help immunize more than two billion children in 122 countries.

Overall, remarkable progress has been achieved in the fight against polio. Since 1988, the number of polio cases has been reduced from 350,000 a year to fewer than 700 cases in 2011. The Americas were declared free from polio in 1994, the Western Pacific region in 2000, and Europe in 2002.

A highly infectious disease, polio still strikes children mainly under the age of five in parts of Africa and South Asia. Polio can cause paralysis and sometimes death. There is no cure for polio, but for as little as 60 cents worth of oral vaccine, a child can be protected from the disease for life.

“Pennies for Polio” has two parts that Lincoln residents and guests can support. The Lincoln Rotary Club will be placing cans in their members business throughout the month of October (Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln Park District, Shelter Insurance office, City Hall...). These cans are meant to collect change for the cause. Rotary is also looking for more business locations to place cans. The second way people can help support the Polio campaign is to come out on Friday, October 24, 2014 to the Lincoln Community High School home football game against Lanphier, where Rotarians will be there to collect change to help raise money for the Polio eradication campaign.

If you are interested in donating, having a can in your business or joining Rotary in this fight to eradicate Polio, please contact Corey Leonard at [e-mail], 217-732-4663 or Andi Hake at [e-mail] or 217-735-2385.

[Andi Hake/Corey Leonard, Lincoln Rotary]