Comments and Testimonials

Date: 2009-08-25 18:49:32
Name: David Talbot
Email: c4a@crutches4africa.org

As a polio survivor I am fully commited to seeing this vision come true! To imagine a world without polio is an awesome thing. For polio to be found only in history books is something I am looking forward to with great anticipation.
Thank you Rotary and Gates foundation!

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Date: 2009-08-26 13:39:04
Name: Barton Phillips
Email: bartonphillips@gmail.com

I am 65 and can remember the summer days when I was not allowed to go swimming at the local pool because may mother was afraid that I might contract the terrible disease Polio. Polio was on everyone mind in the 50's and the "Iron Lung" was a dreaded symbol that everyone feared. One of my best friends in High School was a Polio survivor and he told me stories of his ordeal. One of his legs was almost three inches shorter than the other -- and he was one of the lucky ones because he survived.

The wonderful work of the "March of Dimes" and research has made Polio an almost forgotten heart break here in the U.S., but it still cripples and kills in some parts of the world.

Young people in the U.S. don't remember the fear of the epidemics of the 1950's but I do and I hope that that fear never raises it head again.

In an ever shrinking world the threat of Polio is still only a plane ride away. We must remain vigilant and not allow complacency to stop our fight. This is a battle that is winnable if we stay the course.

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Date: 2009-10-16 10:17:07
Name: Anonymous

soy jose soy presidente del subcomite de polio plus de el distrito 4170 mexico nuestro distrito desde 1985 ha realizado colectas con alcancias en escuelas negocios etc para juntar dinero y hacer aportaciones a polio plus otra idea es hacer donativos a travez de internet con tarjetas de credito y comunicar a nuestras amistades y familiares es importante la poblacion y el mundo se entere de lo que hacemos atte dr jose jordan aviles lugo socio de el club rotario actopan hgo mexico

translated reads:

I am Chairman of the Polio Plus Subcommittee District 4170 Mexico. Since 1985 our district has had collections for Polio in boxes in businesses, schools, etc. to raise money and make contributions to Polio Plus. It is a great idea to donate THROUGH the internet with credit cards and communicate to our friends and family. It is important to the population and the world to let them know what Rotarians do and to have our mission continue.

Sincerely,
Dr. Jordan Jose Lugo Aviles
Partner Rotary Club Mexico Actopan

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Date: 2009-10-26 10:35:38
Name: Bernard Leach
Email: btleach@gmail.com

World Polio day (Oct 24th) brought back lots of memories for me. Having had polio as a baby in 1947, I spent much of my childhood wearing a caliper (brace). I was lucky enough to be operated on by Professor David Lloyd Griffiths, an orthopaedic surgeon at Manchester's Royal Infirmary. It meant I could subsequently walk unaided. I now walk with a stick(cane)but I have been able to have a successful working life and now try to give something back through Rotary

My mum wrote, before she died, about her experience of her baby (me) getting polio. I summarise it below as I think it shows the effect of polio not just on the individual but on a whole family:

“Bernard became ill and feverish ... That evening Frank drove us to the hospital. One of the nurses put him on a table and left him uncovered, which worried me. I was asked to go into another room and whilst I was there I heard one nurse say to another, \"Guess what? We\'ve just taken in a polio case.\" That was how I found out what was the matter with Bernard. I was devastated.

For seven weeks Bernard, who was only five months old when it happened, lay in an isolation ward where we could only see him through glass. And every night for those seven weeks Frank and I drove to the hospital, and every night the sun shone, and every day I died a thousand deaths. Eventually we were able to bring home our baby.At least the fever had gone, but what about the consequences of polio? He could move his arms but not his legs. When he began to crawl he would use his arms to move and drag his legs along. It was heart-breaking. Then one day as he moved on to the lino from the carpet, one of his legs twitched. I knelt down beside him and wept - and prayed. Was this a sign of life coming back? There followed years of visits to the physiotherapist, to the hospital, to the makers of calipers, to the shoe-makers.....”

Finally, I would like to offer my best wishes for success to those members of my club, Rotary Manchester Breakfast UK, who are off in a couple of weeks to India to take part in a polio immunisation day. Let us hope this is the final push to getting rid of this disease which has blighted so many lives

Bernard Leach

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Date: 2009-12-31 10:17:01
Name: Stephanie Smith
Email: athletevillage@juno.com

Boulder native Wes Stanton is #5 on the Northern Lights Junior A Hockey Team in Bloomington MN. (www.northernlightshockey.com) Wes is a member of the Rotaract Club of the Athlete Village which is using the platform of hockey to raise awareness for Rotary and Polio Plus. He is a Sports Goodwill Peace Ambassador during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver...check out the website to see their activities this February. Great to see these young adults committed and passionate to join the causes of Rotary. The players have the goal of raising 00 each for polio this season!

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