For the third year in a row the Rotary Walk with Us to End Polio event will run throughout October. It is a fun way for Rotarians and Rotaractors everywhere to raise awareness and funds to End Polio Now.
From October 1st until 31st Rotary members and friends are encouraged, to walk or run to support Rotary’s Number One Priority – the eradication of poliomyelitis from the world.
Last year, more than three hundred walkers, including RI Director, Jessie Harman, from 13 Rotary Districts raised an impressive total of $111,600. We are hoping that with more walkers in 2022 even more funds will be raised to stop poliomyelitis threatening the children of the world.
As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), Rotary worldwide has helped to reduce polio cases from an average of 1,000 cases per day in 1985 to only six cases in 2021, a 99.9% reduction. Sadly, case numbers are increasing this year and if eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyse as many as 200,000 children each year.
We invite you to join this year’s Rotary Walk with Us campaign. You can register to walk and set distance and fundraising goals. Alternatively, you can donate to someone who is walking. For the walkers, the total distance you have set for the month is accumulated over the entire month of October. So, you can walk when, where and with whom you want in a COVID safe way. You then log each walk you do on the website and encourage family and friends to support you by donating on the site. It is easy and fun. You can walk as an individual or in a team made up of fellow club members.
All contributions through the campaign will be matched 2 to 1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. All donations over $2.00 are tax deductible with receipts issued by The Australian Rotary Foundation Trust.
An added benefit of the walk event is the positive effect on physical and mental health. It would be great if every club had an End Polio champion who could promote the event and encourage participation and donations, as well as generally promote the Rotary’s End Polio cause throughout the year.
You can also register and/or donate at www.rotarywalkwithus.org
PDG Grant Hocking
District 9800 Rotary Foundation Committee Chair
