Think back to the 1940’s and 1950’s…children isolated in hospital wards, often in iron lungs, young, alone and frightened. Did you know that Candy Land was invented in 1948 by schoolteacher Eleanor Abbott who was recovering from polio in a hospital ward? She created the game to help entertain the children. Polio Eradication is front and center this month with the recent case of Wild Poliovirus in Malawi. The virus is confirmed as genetically linked to a Wild Poliovirus detected in Pakistan some time ago, underscoring the real and present danger of polio being only a plane ride away. Detection of WPV1 outside the world’s two remaining endemic countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan, is a serious concern and underscores the importance of prioritizing polio immunization activities. Polio anywhere is a threat to children everywhere. If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year. (Rotary International) Major gifts, and gifts of all sizes, ensure our ability to reach every last child and end polio now and forever. Gifts can easily be made using the Donate button in My Rotary or through EndPolio.org. Gifts can be made in tribute or in memoriam. For more information, contact: | 