Can We Make This Campaign Obsolete?

For many of us, looking back at old class photos and school portraits is not a pleasant experience and for some can be downright disturbing. Those days were not something that I particularly looked forward to and looking at them now that sentiment is quite evident. The same can be said for many instances during the course of one’s life when they sit for a portrait of some form. However, yesterday was not one of those days.

With the assistance from the officers, members of The Rotary Club of Bala Cynwyd –Narberth took turns taking photos for “The World’s Biggest Commercial” campaign to benefit the PolioPlus program. The basis of the campaign is simple, “the world’s largest health initiative deserves the World’s Biggest Commercial”. Since Rotary International has millions of members around the world this should not just be a possibility, it should be a given.

Since1985, Rotary’s commitment to End Polio Now has resulted in the immunization of more than 2 billion children worldwide against polio decreasing the number of those affected by more than 99 percent (from approximately 350,000 reported cases every year in the beginning to fewer than 700 new cases reported in 2011). Of course, this success would have not been possible without the efforts of Rotarians worldwide as well as the generous partnerships that have been formed over the years including those from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, PhRMA’s contribution to this campaign, and many others over the years. We truly are This Close.

What is needed now is for Rotary leaders to motivate their membership and make your contribution to the eradication of this paralyzing disease. Take action and show your support. Go to the website and follow the simple instructions: Snap a photo of yourself making the This Close sign and upload it into the commercial. Show it to your friends and family and ask them to do the same. Your involvement will help convince world leaders that support for polio eradication is global.

How much do you value life? How much do you value the 60 seconds it takes to contribute to this effort? This is truly a once in a lifetime, once in a generation, the one opportunity we have to ensure future generations are lifted of this burden. Our goal is to see that this program becomes obsolete. Help us to close the gap and make polio are part of the past rather than the future.