November 2, 2017 – Tuesday October 24 was World Wide Polio Day. Rotarians around the world joined in a variety of actions to put a spotlight on how close we are … but not yet there… in eradicating polio. Nevada City Rotary was out in style and eager wrap up a shared commitment to eradicate through Rotary International’s End Polio Now campaign. This year Nevada City Rotarians walked from The National Hotel in Nevada City to the Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley and back. Along the 9.5 mile trek, the Rotarians spoke with local residents. Many said they thought polio had ended and were surprised to hear polio still exists in 3 countries. One young adult man asked “What is Polio?”
The walk brought closure to Nevada City Rotary’s Make History Today End Polio Once and For All campaign that started with President Cathy Wilcox-Barnes walking the Camino Santiago across Northern Spain in late July-September. During a 500+ mile pilgrimage, Cathy Wilcox-Barnes distributed EndPolio pins and raised money to eradicate polio on our planet. Cathy’s walk was in honor of Sam Dardick, a beloved Nevada County Supervisor, urban planner, disability rights activist, farmer, and All-American wheelchair athlete. Through the walks, the Club’s Give Polio the Boot collection at their Treat Street fair booth, and other efforts, the Club has raised over $3,000. Through a partnership with Rotary International, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will match each dollar $2 to $1. Thus the $3,000 represents a $9,000 total collection for eradicating polio efforts.
For more on Cathy’s hike this summer in Spain, see https://givingtrail.org/campaigns/200110/make-history-today-end-polio-once-and-for-all