A step closer to eradication of polio

APPROXIMATELY 100 attendees enjoyed an afternoon of bubbles, fundraising, food and conversation at the Rotary Club of Cairns Sunrise, World’s Greatest Meal (WGM) / End Polio Now High-Tea Party, held at the Bungalow Hotel on Sunday, February 12.

Those attending this Rotary Birthday Tea Party and bubbles saw beautiful ladies wearing colourful floral dresses and six brave men enjoying a tasty selection of hot and cold savouries and cake at the lunchtime High Tea party.

Councillor Amy Eden supported the event that many prominent local business people attended, 20 per cent of whom were Rotarians from the five Rotary clubs in Cairns, with the remainder being community-minded friends, family and colleagues.

Local businesses came forward with many raffle prizes, boosting the fundraising by $1,166.

This High Tea Party accounts for another local Rotary success story for the world eradication of polio by achieving the fantastic result of raising $3,500 to assist the “End Polio Now” program.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will match every donation dollar with two dollars, and with $3,500 raised, the impact of the fundraiser reaches new heights.

The event will enable Rotary International to provide over 51,000 vaccines to keep the disease in check.

The polio virus has raged in the world since ancient Egyptian times; however, since Rotary entered the fight against the virus in 1988, incidences of polio have reduced from 320,000 children annually to just 30 last year.

In over 40 years of vaccinating children, the virus has now been isolated to just two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Yet, despite this massive success, millions of children must still be immunised annually to prevent any resurgence of polio.

Cairns Sunrise Rotary Club event organiser Rita Zappulla thanked her team of friends and Rotary helpers, including members of other local Rotary Clubs and Rotary Youth Exchange Program Student Inka Immonen from Finland.

Her sincere thanks were also expressed to everyone in attendance, whose generous support made the day successful.

For more information on Rotary in Cairns and how to become a part of helping improve our local and worldwide communities, a Rotary Showcase is being held on Monday, February 27, at Dundees at the Aquarium.

This is a free event, but bookings for catering purposes are essential. People can book through TryBooking or contact Rotarians Rita Zappulla at 0409634445, or Row Percy at 0417 814 461.