End Polio Now

Since 1985 Rotary has led the battle against polio, and kept the pressure on as worldwide cases plummeted from 350,000 per year to several hundred. When India went off the list of endemic countries in 2012, we took one more step toward eradicating a human disease from the earth for only the second time in history.

Although polio has not been seen in Great Britain and Ireland for many years, it is vital that we continue our efforts to eliminate the disease worldwide in order that it can never return. Rotary clubs in Great Britain and Ireland have so far donated over £20 million (€24 million) to End Polio Now.

Our efforts to eradicate polio have been described as one of the finest humanitarian projects the world has ever known and Rotary has even been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The eradication of polio when completed will be one of the most significant achievements in public health since the eradication of smallpox.

Intrepid members of the Rotary Club of Wendover & District marked End Polio Day 2015 by walking from the start of the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal to Buckland Wharf where we were treated to lunch and housewarming at Club members Simon and Cheryl's new home. An even smaller group then walked back to Wendover via Aston Hill, Wendover Woods and Hale Lane. £120 was raised for End Polio Now which will be added to our Club weekly donations and sent off to be added to by the Gates Foundation which matches dollar for dollar every dollar Rotary raises for End Polio Now until 2018.