Happening now: West Seattle Rotary’s polio-fighting fundraiser

It’s been half a century since a vaccine breakthrough led to the near-eradication of polio in the U.S. But as the Rotary Club of West Seattle is explaining today in The Junction – the rest of the world is a different story, particularly isolated areas of Asia and Africa. Till 5 pm today, West Seattle Rotarians are by KeyBank with an iron lung – the device that paralyzed polio victims needed to keep breathing. Contributions will go toward the Rotary International campaign to match a nine-digit grant from the Gates Foundation for worldwide polio vaccination, to wipe out the disease once and for all. (P.S. The WS Rotary’s Berry Sale is under way too, supporting all their charity programs including the Christmas Shopping Spreeyou can order online; deliveries are just weeks away.)

4 Replies to "Happening now: West Seattle Rotary's polio-fighting fundraiser"

  • Diane June 12, 2011 (2:08 pm)

    Sorry, don’t think I could handle seeing this in person; my mom lived in one of these for 3 months and died from polio when I was 3 yrs old, just a year prior to polio vaccine becoming readily available; I never got to see her from time she went into hospital; photos I have of her shows pic of me and my baby sis posted on mirror above her head (which was only part of her body sticking out of iron lung); I’m in my 60th yr and still makes me very sad; a child NEVER gets over losing a parent
    ~
    btw, Washington State has one of lowest vaccination rates in the country; please vaccinate your children, for the sake of everyone’s health

  • Genesee Hill June 12, 2011 (5:53 pm)

    Diane:

    My thoughts entirely. I am also in my 60th year and remember the ravages of polio well. Hated the series of three shots, but my mom made me get them…the whole Dr. office staff had to hold me down, though…

  • AJP June 12, 2011 (6:47 pm)

    Everyone who doesn’t vaccinate their kids should see this machine.

  • Melissa June 12, 2011 (9:36 pm)

    It truly is amazing how far medicine has come! I am a young mom and couldn’t imagine worrying about polio infecting me or my family. yes PLEASE VACCINATE!

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