Wes Shipley with Pilot Knob Rotary and Vicki Byrd with the Denton Noon Rotary Club
Pat Henderson
Each year, Oct. 24 is recognized by Rotary International as World Polio Day when we are reminded of the devastating impact that this disease can have on children. Polio was officially eradicated in the U.S. in 1994, with vaccination efforts playing a crucial role in achieving this milestone.
Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years, and our goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever. Through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, polio cases have been reduced by 99.9 percent since 1979.
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.
Pilot Knob Rotary Club donates $10 to the End Polio Now fund to honor each individual speaker at our weekly Friday meetings. Other local clubs raise funds with activities throughout the year.
Pilot Knob Rotary Club is a group of experienced professional leaders committed to service and fellowship leading to a positive impact on our community and the world. We meet each Friday at noon in the Boardroom of the Wildhorse Grill.