BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) — Rotary members in Beckley are taking action on World Polio Day to raise awareness, funds, and support to end polio, a vaccine-preventable disease that still threatens children in parts of the world today.
The Rotary Club of Beckley is hosting Putt Putt for Polio-an awareness event at the Historic Black Knight Municipal Park on Sunday. This fun event will not only provide fellowship with the community but will bring awareness and funds to Rotary International’s efforts to eradicate polio. Participants are invited to tee off with anything BUT a traditional putter. Participants are encouraged to use their imagination or find items around the house that will offer them a prize. The cost to participate is $10 and all proceeds will go to Rotary International’s End Polio campaign. The event will be held from 1 to 4pm.
When Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, there were 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries every year. We’ve made great progress against the disease since then. Today, polio cases have been reduced by 99.9 percent, and just two countries continue to report cases of wild poliovirus: Afghanistan and Pakistan. And we remain committed to the end.
With polio nearly eradicated, Rotary and its partners must sustain this progress and continue to reach every child with the polio vaccine. Without full funding and political commitment, this paralyzing disease could return to polio-free countries, putting children everywhere at risk. Rotary has committed to raising US$50 million each year to support global polio eradication efforts. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged to match that 2-to-1, for a total yearly contribution of $150 million.
“Our hope is to generate conservations around disease prevention and how we, as community members in Beckley WV can make a lasting impact in other countries, shares April Elkins-Badtke, Rotary Club Public Relations.
Rotary has contributed more than $2.2 billion to ending polio since 1985, including $3,700 donated by the Rotary Club of Beckley.