Friends,
RI Past Director Robert Hall has just informed me we have found another small child with the wild polio virus in North Waziristan, Pakistan!
The child has the typical acute flaccid Paralysis.
As with the case last week, this terrible news further inspires us to continue our fight on behalf of the children of the world - and increase our fund raising efforts as we close in on the end of the 2021/22 Rotary year.
Vaccination campaigns are being intensified and all members of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative are focused on the challenge of the task ahead.
The GPEI partners advise that almost US$5 Billion is required to fund the program for the next five years!
END POLIO NOW PROMOTIONS
Whilst we all regret this setback, we are also pleased to share the good news of two outstanding fund raising promotions about to happen – led by inspirational Australians.
- Ken Hutt from the Rotary Club of Berry, NSW, and his team are on site in Nepal prepared for his jump of Mount Kosciuszko – flying his END POLIO NOW paraglider.
- Phil and Joyce Ogden from Launceston South, Tasmania, are making their way to Perth, Western Australia to commence their 2,500 km marathon tandem cycle back to Adelaide, with support from a network of Rotarians at home and along the planned route.
Please take time to check their respective web sites and encourage your clubs and members to support both promotions financially.
FUNDRAISING
Remember, we need to encourage our clubs and members right to the end of June to support END POLIO NOW –
- Support President Shekhar’s request for EVERY Rotary Club to donate US$1,500 to Polio this Rotary year.
- Our Rotary Foundation reminds all Rotary Districts that every remaining cent of DDF should be donated to Polio to increase the value via the Gates Foundation and World Fund bonuses.
- Continue our search for major donors to TRF at US$10,000 per time.
- Individual personal donations help grow the total. Many clubs are now becoming Clem Renouf and Bill Boyd END POLIO NOW CLUBS at just $10 per member.
I don’t need to remind everyone that we are now into May – the penultimate month of the Rotary year. Let’s finish the year strongly …
With thanks and best wishes,
Bob
PDG Bob Aitken AM JP
RI END POLIO NOW Coordinator, Zone 8, 2021/22.
Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains, NSW.