Local Rotarians March On Downtown

In light of Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Providence demonstrations, motorists driving on Main Street early Wednesday afternoon may have been startled to see a placard-carrying group of marchers trudging toward the heart of downtown.

They may have been more surprised if they took the time to look up from the wheel and see the signs identified the marchers as local Rotarians. Their walk was one of many activities nationwide to call attention to a Rotary International campaign to stamp out polio worldwide.

People born in the '60s and later know little about polio and the fear it generated in the '50s. The disease is long gone from the western hemisphere, but still pops up in some Middle East and African countries and there are always fears it might spread.

In 1985 Rotary International took on the goal of eradicating polio and working with the World Health Organization, it has come very close. Smallpox is the only disease ever wiped out worldwide. If Rotarians around the globe can raise $200 million the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will add $355 million to help with immunization.

Since the campaign was originally launched, local Rotarians have raised more than $100,000. Inspired by several members who battled the disease, club members simply reached into their own pockets for the money. The club funds many service projects, usually by conducting fundraisers.

Leading the polio awareness march in his power scooter was polio victim John Nanni of Hamilton Township in New Jersey who also spoke to the club at their noon meeting.

Nanni contracted polio in 1953 when he was 10 months old. Doctors told his parents he only had 3 days to live. He did suffer paralysis from the neck down but for six months his mother, who was pregnant, gave him physical therapy every other hour, keeping his muscles from atrophying. He did regain the ability to walk and led a normal childhood, although he struggled to keep up with the other kids.

However when he was 40 Nanni began having problems and after two years of wrong diagnosis discovered he had post polio syndrome. He says post polio syndrome is now showing up in many people who apparently never knew they had mild cases of the disease.

Nanni had to change his life style to avoid losing use of his legs and can not walk for more than 2,000 steps. He uses his scooter if he has to go more than a block and wears a brace on his right foot.

In spite of his battle Nanni, now 58 years old, says he is one of the lucky ones.   He had a normal life until he was 40, married and was successful in business.  He says he is also lucky to be living in the U.S. where the Americans with Disabilities Act lessens the challenge for people like him.

When Nanni became aware of Rotary’s campaign against polio he joined his local club and now works on their polio eradication committee. He says if the Rotarians can actually wipe out polio the model they have established will be used to tackle other diseases.

Originally posted: http://eastgreenwich.patch.com/articles/local-rotarians-march-on-downtown#photo-8246010