Polio: If it’s anywhere, it’s a threat everywhere

What in the world is polio? It causes infantile paralysis, can be eradicated and can be transmitted to people all over the world. Rotary’s fight began in the Philippines in 1979 and has contributed $2.7 billions to this global initiative.

As Rotary International says, “Polio anywhere is a threat everywhere.” The Polio Global Initiative, comprised of several organizations and countries joining hands to MAKE A DIFFERENCE, has come “so close” to eradicating it… in fact, it’s 99.99% gone. Right now there are two countries (Afghanistan and Pakistan) who have live cases. In 2022 there were 22 cases and in 2023 there were12. But that’s not 100%!

The Atlanta Area Rotary Club will be joining Rotarians world-wide to raise money to defeat this childhood disease. Please join us! And HOW, you may ask. Thank you for asking and let me tell you how you can help us.

Many of us order take-out pizza at our local pizzerias and that’s how you can help during the week of October 22-26. We have tickets to GIVE YOU and when you turn them in to Luigi’s, they will give us a donation based on your pizza business.

Luigi’s will collect those tickets on TAKE OUT orders (call 903-796-7020). So, call me or any Rotarian, and we’ll give you a ticket! Or you can go to the Chamber of Commerce or see Tammy Davenport at Superior Realty, Tracey Whittington at United Country Double Creek or Jerry Porter at H&R Block Together we can eradicate the elusive polio disease before it comes back to our neighborhood. As Rotary International says, “It’s just a plane ride away.” Let’s pull out the welcome mat from under this disease! Already we have received a direct donation from Pizza Hut (be sure to thank them.) Pizza Hut number is 903.796.7189. We appreciate the support these businesses have given us. There will also be a donation box at Luigi’s if you can help us with this campaign.

Call me (Fern Porter) at 903.691.9717 and we’ll get together to defeat this disease. You can also send a check to Atlanta Area Rotary Club, PO Box 1313, Atlanta, TX 75551.