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How can one help PolioPlus Ride 2003?

  • Personal and Club contributions to the effort.
  • Corporate Contributions & Sponsorship

    • Individual purchase of our gold-toned PolioPlus Ride Support Pin 
     
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      Rotary recognizes U.S. leaders as "Champions" of polio war

      Rotary International on 15 May presented key members of the United States Congress with the Polio Eradication Champion Award for their ongoing support
      of the initiative.  In fiscal year 2002, Congress appropriated US$129.9 million to the global polio eradication effort.

      "I am proud to honor members of Congress who have fought hard and gained
      funding for the monumental task of ridding the earth of this crippling
      disease," said Rotary Foundation Trustee Chairman Luis Vicente Giay as he
      urged Congressional leaders to stay the course during the final and most
      difficult stage of the initiative.  "While the dream of a polio-free world
      is in sight, the last big push still lies ahead. U.S. leadership is crucial
      to ensure the threshold of victory is crossed."

      First-time recipients of the award include Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL)
      and Representatives Maurice D. Hinchey (D-NY), Benjamin Gilman (R-NY), Mark
      Steven Kirk (R-IL), John Peterson (R-PA), and Michael McNulty (D-NY).

      Past recipients of the award were also honored for their continued support of polio eradication.  They include Representatives Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), Jim Kolbe (R-AZ), Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Ralph Regula (R-OH), as well as Senators Thad Cochran (R-MS), Bill Frist (R-TN), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI), Patrick J. Leahy (R-VT), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Arlen Specter (R-PA), Sonny Callahan (R-AL), Dave Obey (D-WI), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Ted Stevens (R-AK), and Roger F. Wicker (R-MS).

      Since 1988, the number of polio cases has decreased from 350,000 to 494 in 2001, representing a 99.8 percent reduction. The polio virus now circulates
      in no more than 10 countries in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, down from 20 in 2000 and 125 in 1988.

      In spite of this success, the final phase of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative is proving to be the most challenging.  Reaching all children, including those in high-density populations and in areas of civil unrest,
      maintaining political commitment in the face of a disappearing disease, and most critically, closing a $275 million funding gap are the major obstacles
      that must be overcome.  To help meet this funding challenge, Rotary is embarking on its second membership fundraising drive with the goal of
      raising $80 million for polio eradication.