Students in the Cimarron Middle School Interact Club have never been to Afghanistan, Nigeria or Pakistan. Nor have they had to worry about contracting polio, a contagious, crippling and often deadly virus that infects the brain and spinal cord, which has been eradicated around the world except for Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan.

Students at Cimarron, in Parker, want to make sure children in the three countries where polio is still a problem won't have to worry about the deadly virus in the future. Students raised money through the Pajamas for Polio fundraiser last month, which they donated to the Rotary Club International, which is the leading service organization for eradicating polio. The students' efforts earned them their Rotary banner, which now hangs in the entryway to the school.

“I joined the Interact Club because my friend told me about it and it sounded like fun,” said student Abby Reis, 11. “I really like it and I want to help my community and other people. Now I wish we could meet two times a week because I want to do so much more.”

The club is a junior Rotary Club, and students had to earn a Rotary banner to hang in their school, by sponsoring a local and international fundraising event. Pajamas for Polio qualified for the international event, and students donated the $500 raised to eradicate polio. They are planting trees around Parker for Arbor Day, and working on a school safety project which qualifies for local events. Students were presented their banner by the Cherry Creek Valley Rotary Club of Parker, and spent an afternoon crafting individual name tags to accompany the banner. The club currently boasts nearly 40 members.

Norah Dishong, 13, said she can see herself becoming a Rotarian and upholding the organization's motto of “Service Before Self” throughout her life.

“I'm doing this because it feels really good to help out my community in a way that doesn't benefit me. I could see myself in a lifetime of service,” said Dishong.

Student adviser Nicole Martin said although she supervises the students, they take the initiative to run the club by themselves.

“They're a great group of kids, and this is the kind of club that anybody can belong to,” said Martin. “We have kids who are also involved in sports, theater and math. They all get along and are all passionate about helping others.”