Why Polio

Why is the Race being held in support of polio eradication?

Polio has been one of the most terrible scourges facing humans since the beginning of civilization over 5,000 years ago. This evil virus attacks the most vulnerable of our population, children under the age of 5 and leaves them dead or crippled. This campaign to eradicate polio is the most important activity of Rotary Clubs throughout the world and we must continue to support the eradication program until polio is certified as being eradicated. We are so close to the end, that special efforts are needed to keep ourselves and our partners focused. This Race serves to raise awareness and funds in support of the eradication of polio, and will continue to be held every year, until polio eradication is certified by the World Health Organization.

Why focus on polio? There are no more cases in the United States and there are much worse diseases like HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis and SARS

While these other diseases are more prevalent and certainly have a greater impact on more lives than polio, and receive more media attention, we are now very close to the eradication of the polio virus. This will only be second disease ever eradicated, smallpox being the first. Eradication is only possible in a small number of diseases, and is the most cost effective strategy of all. Once polio is eradicated, no child will ever get the disease again. The world will save about $1.2 billion a year by no longer having to immunize children against polio and these funds can be used in other health programs. The United States alone will save $230 million a year, and does not include the costs of caring for crippled children.

We are so close to eradication, and that is why we are no longer seeing any children affected by polio. There were over 350,000 cases per year in 1988 when we started and last year there were only 2,001 cases. As of 21 March 2007, only 61 cases have been reported. Only 4 countries are still reservoirs of the virus: India, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. In 2002, with our help, Rotary International organized a special fundraising effort and raised over $135 million which will bring the total of Rotary's contributions to over $600 million. This year, the Polio Plus Partners program will focus on high risk countries, social mobilization, and surveillance.

The real challenge that we face, is continuing our efforts to keep the world focused on these last cases. This is the most difficult and dangerous time. If we falter now, the whole campaign is lost. We have to finish this. With no visible cases, we still must remain vigilant and immunize our children until the world is certified as being polio free. We are so close....we must keep up our efforts! If we dilute our efforts now, we risk losing everything. So that is why we should keep focused on the eradication of polio. We are the conscience of the world when it comes to polio eradication.

For more information on the global program to eradicate polio please look at :

What are the funds used for?

Funds will be contributed to the PolioPlus Partners Program of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International and to Rotary Club of Chicago - Financial District's Foundation supporting local charities.