The Rotary clubs of the Cayman Islands are getting together to raise funds to meet the international humanitarian organisation’s pledge for polio eradication.
All four Rotary clubs in the Cayman Islands, together with two Rotaract clubs and the EarlyAct club, will be at Camana Bay with the first-ever Bed Race to Eradicate Polo on Saturday, 18 February.
Members of the community may participate by entering a team of six, building a bed and racing it down main street. The event is based around a similar event held by Rotary in the Bahamas recently and looks to be a great family day of fun.
Event co-ordinator and President of Rotary Central Fiona Moseley said, “We hope to have a fun day where all the family can come out and participate, we expect lots of laughs and we encourage the pulic to support this event. Many prises are available on the day through a raffle where a $5 donation gets you entered for lots of prizes, including a special prize from the Westin. The public can also vote on the ‘best bed design’.”
Participants may begin to get their beds ready at 1pm at Camana Bay, while the judging of the best bed design will be at 2pm followed by bed race heats beginning at 3pm. Abacus is providing refreshments and the Junior Achievement companies will be showcasing their products.
Eradication initiative
To date, Rotary club members worldwide have contributed more than $1 billion toward the eradication of polio, a cause Rotary took on in 1985. In 1988, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention joined Rotary as spearheading partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. More recently, the Gates Foundation has become a major supporter. In November 2007, the Gates Foundation gave Rotary a $100 million challenge grant for polio eradication, increasing it to $355 million in 2009. Rotary agreed to raise $200 million in matching funds by June 30, 2012, and it has achieved this goal.
Reaching children with the oral polio vaccine in the disease’s remaining strongholds is labour and resource-intensive due to a host of challenges, including poor infrastructure, geographical isolation, armed conflict and cultural misunderstanding about the eradication campaign. Rotary is committed to the eradication of polio from the face of the earth and they are ‘this close’.
Corporations and individuals are encouraged to join up at www.bedrace.ky
Related Videos
