Rotary Swimathon 2018
 
 
The Rotary Club of Hamilton’s Annual Swimathon
On
Saturday 20th October , 2018, 12.00 to 3.00pm,
At
St Joseph’s College, Nudgee POOL
 
It was Australia’s Sir Clem Renouf who, as President of Rotary International in 1978/79, led an international campaign to vaccinate every child against polio. As a result of these early efforts by Rotary, the global community came together in 1988 to launch the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Since 1988, there has been a worldwide reduction in the number of polio cases by 99.9 per cent. Following the certification of India as polio-free in 2012, polio remains endemic in only Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.
 
In 2016, the fight to end polio made historic progress with fewer than 35 cases reported compared with 350,000 cases in 1985. Over 90% of the new cases were reported in Pakistan (18) and Afghanistan (12). Four cases were reported in Nigeria.
 
But what exactly is polio?  Fortunately (or unfortunately for some) many of us in the developed world have forgotten what the disease looks like?
 
• Polio is a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease, which still strikes unvaccinated children mainly under the age of five.
• It can cause paralysis within hours, and polio paralysis is almost always irreversible.
• In the most severe cases, it attacks the motor neurons of the brain stem, causing breathing difficulty or even death.
• Historically, it has been the world’s greatest cause of disability.
• Because there is no cure for polio, the best protection is prevention by vaccination
 
For as little as US$0.60 for one dose of vaccine, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life.
 
If polio isn’t eradicated, the world will continue to live under the threat of the disease. More than 10 million children will be paralysed in the next 40 years if the world fails to capitalise on the current US$9 billion global investment in eradication.
 
The world now has polio eradication within its reach and this would be a major victory for international aid and global public health.
 
Rotary’s annual charity swimathon event year will be held at the St Joseph’s College, Nudgee pool on the afternoon of the 20th October 2018. Specific details can be found at our website: www.hamiltonrotary.com.
 
There are many ways to contribute: it’s not just about being an ironman or ironwoman.
 
  • You can swim as little as 50 metres, or for up to one hour!
  • You can sponsor someone else who might be swimming.
  • You can help organise the logistics of the day, or
  • You might consider sponsoring Rotary’s work directly via a cash donation.
 
Whichever way works for you, you will still be helping Rotary in its efforts eradicate Polio NOW! The goal is within our reach and POLIO is almost eradicated.
 
This is a unique opportunity to raise funds and  do good in the world.
 
 
Please email or call us to garner sponsorship for the SWIMATHON  now.
 
Contact: Angie McPhee on 0407 581040 or Travis Pullen on 0403 307712
 
Look forward to your involvement,
 
Rutian Mi
President
Rotary Club of Hamilton, Brisbane, Queensland.