NEWS RELEASE: “World Polio Day to be marked with Virtual Walk”

 Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 30 years. Our goal of ridding the world of this disease is one step closer to this World Polio Day.

The Rotary Club of Kenora is planning a Virtual Walk on World Polio Day, Saturday, Oct. 24, to raise funds and awareness of the service organization’s top priority for more than 30 years. Rotary members have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours toward eradicating polio worldwide and helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease. Because of the efforts of Rotary and its partners, nearly 19 million people who would otherwise have been paralyzed are walking, and more than 1.5 million people are alive who would otherwise have died. Today, polio remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But it’s crucial to continue working to keep other countries polio-free. If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year.

“We are almost there!! We must continue the effort to fulfill a promise to all children for a polio-free world.”

It has been a busy spring for Kenora Rotary and facilitating the Nutrition on Weekends (N.O.W.) Kenora program during the COVID-19 pandemic. We were able to increase our assistance to those who rely on school nutrition programs when school programs are not accessible. The Rotary Club of Kenora in partnership with the Northwestern Health Unit and local schools, the N.O.W. Program increased the number of bags being delivered (as many as 350 a week) and the size of those bags (5-7 days worth of breakfasts, snacks, and lunches).

Thanks to all those who volunteered to assist with the program. A version of the program will continue this summer with the health unit handling all finances, Rotarian Stacey Szajewski has volunteered to continue shopping and organizing volunteers for packing, and schools are continuing distribution.