Polio Plus

End Polio Now: Make Your Club's Voice Count on World Polio Day

October 24 is World Polio Day—and District 5495 has an opportunity to make our voices count. For more than 40 years, Rotary has led the global fight to eradicate polio. We have come extraordinarily close, but “almost” isn’t enough. Polio remains a threat as long as the virus exists anywhere in the world. World Polio Day is our chance to remind our communities why Rotary made this commitment and why we must stay engaged until the job is finished.

This October, let’s put polio in the spotlight. Dedicate a club meeting to End Polio Now. Invite a public-health professional, polio survivor or Rotarian involved in the campaign to share the story. Use your club’s Facebook, Instagram, newsletter and website to share facts about polio and Rotary’s role in the eradication effort. Organize a Purple Pinkie event, a community walk, a Pints for Polio fundraiser or another creative activity that gets people talking. Partner with local businesses, schools, civic organizations and other community groups. The goal is simple: raise awareness, start conversations and keep the promise of a polio-free world in front of our communities.

And let’s turn awareness into action. Challenge every member of your club to make a personal contribution to PolioPlus. Set a club fundraising goal for October and celebrate your progress along the way. Consider dedicating happy dollars, fines or a portion of club fundraising proceeds to End Polio Now. Encourage members to share their reason for supporting polio eradication with friends and family and invite others to join the effort. Every gift—large or small—helps Rotary and its partners continue the work necessary to finish the fight. Make your contribution today - Donate Now.

District 5495, this is our moment to act. On October 24, let's make sure our communities hear the message: Rotary is still committed to ending polio, and every Rotarian has a role to play. Learn. Share. Give. One club meeting can educate members. One social media post can reach hundreds of people. One fundraiser can inspire a community. One donation can help protect children from a devastating disease. Together, our clubs can help Rotary finish what we started. End Polio Now!

 

Brad Gamble, Polio Plus Chair, bradjgamble@gmail.com

David Faragher, Polio Plus Committee, davidcfaragher@yahoo.com

District 5495 clubs vie for Polio Champion top honors!

The competition for the Polio Champions Award has started for the 2025-26 Rotary year. The top seven clubs in the competition as of mid October, 2025 are Sedona Red Rocks, Valley of the Sun Passport, Scottsdale North, Mesa West, Sedona Village, Sedona, and Peoria North.

 

Sadly only 30 of our District clubs have contributed to End Polio Now as of this report. That leaves 27 clubs that have made no contribution. There is still time for non-contributors to rectify that situation and also time for other clubs to up their contributions. District Governor Jim has indicated that he will not award the Paul Harris Bronze at his District Conference in early May. Rather, the competition will run until mid to late June.

 

Thus far this year, there have been 36 cases of wild polio virus reported, 29 in Pakistan and 7 in Afghanistan. There have also been 157 cases of vaccine derived polio. There is still work to do folks. Let’s keep those contributions coming in. Thanks! 

Iron Lung Lager helps raise funds for PolioPlus efforts

Rotarians in our district have donated $70,000 to PolioPlus by drinking beer!!! Congratulations! So of course with as much success as we had before, we are doing it again. The next 50 cases of Iron Lung Lager from MudShark Brewing out of Lake Havasu City are available for you to donate for in support of PolioPlus and just in time for World Polio Day. 

After you donate, if you live in the Valley, call Dennis who is listed on the opportunity, and find out when the next pick up time is. As always, print out your receipt or have it ready on your phone to show Dennis. Our Iron Lung lager team will be coordinating ways for you to get the beer if you're are out in Eastern AZ or clubs on The River. Remember to stop by MudShark Brewing too. 

Please spread the word and let everyone know more cases are available. Thank you for supporting our Rotary Foundation and End Polio Now. 

Click Here to purchase your Iron Lung Lager

Support Rebecca Wilks in this year's Ride to End Polio!
 
Rebecca Wilks of the Valley of the Sun Passport Club is once again competing in the Ride to End Polio Fundraiser this November. The event takes place Nov. 22 and is part of the 42nd Annual El Tour de Tucson bike ride.
 
The Ride to End Polio is sponsored by District 5500. All funds raised support Rotary's efforts to eradicate polio.
 
You can support Rebecca and make a donation here and remember that the Gates Foundation will match your contribution 2:1.
 
In addition to the Gates Foundation, Marco and Rebecca will match 2:1 as well!
 
 
 
Rotary Club of Verrado hosts event to raise funds to End Polio

The Rotary Club of Verrado would like to invite all D5495 Rotarians, family and friends, to Pints for Polio, at Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers, 1645 N. Verrado Way, Buckeye, AZ, on October 21, 2025, from 4pm to closing.  Please tell your server that you are there for Pint for Polio. 15% of all proceeds from food and drinks will go to END POLIO NOW.

 

One Day. One Event: End Polio!
 
ONE DAY. ONE EVENT: TO END POLIO
Help Rotary observe World Polio Day October 24 by hosting a club or community event to raise awareness and donations to help us in our efforts to eradicate the disease. CLICK HERE for helpful resources and tools to promote World Polio Day and putting together a successful event!
Competition heats up for district End Polio Now Champion Award!
 
As of February 18, 2025 the top eight clubs in the End Polio Now Champions Award competition are, in order, Peoria North, Sedona, Scottsdale North, Mesa West and Sedona Red Rocks tied for fourth (4th), E-Club of the Southwest, Fountain Hills, Surprise and Sun City West.
 
Any of these clubs could wind up as the overall winner. For that matter any club could wind up the winner with large enough contributions through the remainder of the Rotary Fiscal Year.
 
The District Conference this year opens on May 1. District Governor Michelle will be presenting the End Polio Now Champions Award at the conference. Keep in mind that there is always a delay with Rotary International getting donations posted on their website. Clubs have and individuals should make their contributions to PolioPlus sooner than later, but certainly no later than mid-April so the contribution can be considered in the competition.
 
Now is the time to make a difference in the battle against polio. As of today (February 18, 2025) there has been 1 confirmed cases of paralytic polio reported this year, as compared to 98 during all of 2024. This single case is in Pakistan. Variant (circulating vaccine derived) polio cases remain quite prevalent in Africa.
 
The generosity of Rotarians and others over the years in the End Polio Now effort has been amazing. We’ve come too far to give up now. If you haven’t already done so, make your donation now!