Rotary Club leads fund-raising effort against polio worldwide

Published Friday, August 16, 2002 12:36 PM CDT

Members of Rotary worldwide are reaching out to local communities to raise needed funds to eradicate polio by 2005.

The Rotary Club of McComb has set the goal of raising $8,500 through Rotary International’s second “every member” fund-raising drive aimed at ending polio, entitled “Fulfilling Our Promise: Eradicate Polio.”

Rotary’s worldwide goal is to raise $80 million by June 2003.

A highly infectious disease, polio still affects children, mainly under the age of 5, in countries in South Asia and in parts of Africa. Polio can cause paralysis and in some cases death.

McComb Rotary Foundation chairman Bobby McDaniel said he views the fund-raising effort as a historic opportunity.

“No child today should ever have to suffer from polio, as it is totally preventable. If we raise this money now, we will be preventing future generations from suffering this age-old scourge.”

For more information, contact the McComb Rotary Club or visit www.rotary.org.