It's on this week: our annual Polio Plus collection at the Runaway Bay Shopping Centre. We have three days, from Wednesday 9th to Friday 11th October inclusive, at our usual spot at the Runaway Bay Shopping Centre. Gerald East maintains the Roster, so make sure you lodge your preferred time slot(s) with him. We urgently need to fill time slots on Wednesday, Thursday and particularly Friday.For those of you who are young enough to be unfamiliar with Polio Plus: The Polio virus is spread person to person, typically through contaminated water. It can attack the nervous system, and in some instances, lead to paralysis. Although there is no cure, there is a safe and effective vaccine – one which Rotary and our partners use to immunize over 2.5 billion children worldwide. Rotary started a campaign to eradicate Polio in 1985. Since then, the incidence of Polio worldwide has been reduced by 99.9% - yes, it is virtually unknown in most regions in the world. Rotary has invested more than US$ 1.9 Billion (AU$ 2.8 Billion) and countless unpaid volunteer hours to raise these enormous funds. More than 2.2 Billion children in 122 countries have been protected. But until such time as there are no further incidences reported, we need to continue the effort! Rotary is committed to raise some US$ 50 Million per annum, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has committed to match Rotary's efforts with two dollars for every dollar Rotary raises. More information: click on this link.
And, by the way: if you meet an Anti-Vaxxer, you have my permission to give him/her a good piece of my mind! Ed.