The Rotary Flame Makes a Comeback on Social Media

I have seen first-hand how devastating polio can be. In India, I led teams of fellow Rotary members in “National Immunization Day” vaccination campaigns – an extraordinary effort undertaken twice a year in the country to immunize every child under the age of five against polio. While we had the incredible opportunity to protect hundreds of children from this disease, we were too late for some. The image of children – paralyzed by a completely preventable disease, crawling and begging in the streets – will stay with me forever.  

Since Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, we have watched the number of cases fall worldwide from 350,000 children per year to only a handful to date in 2017. However, we can’t stop until we reach zero cases and we have confirmed that this disease has been eradicated.

The Rotary “Flame” was launched in Chennai, India, in December 2014 to celebrate both India’s certification as polio-free, and to commemorate the 30th anniversary of PolioPlus. The torch made its way through many countries on its journey around the world to the 2015 International Convention in São Paulo, Brazil. Following the convention, the flame resumed its journey as it traveled around the world again to the 2016 International Convention in Seoul, South Korea. Today it is headed to Chattanooga, Tennessee, the home of Rotary President John Germ. Here the “Flame” will begin a 100-mile relay to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the Rotary Foundation, ending at the 2017 International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia.

I hope to let everyone have a chance at personally passing the torch with the "Virtual Flame." You can be a part of this historic journey and help us raise awareness and funds to #endpolio. First, make a donation at endpolio.org, where your donation will be matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. After, post the “Virtual Flame” (pictured below with sample messages) on your social media pages and challenge five friends to do the same. If everyone carries the torch and makes a contribution, we can #endpolio.  Join me and be a part of history, as we eradicate only the second human disease in the history of the world!

You can share the sample social media messages with the graphic of the flame. 

Twitter:

I’m carrying the torch to reach #zerocases. I challenge you to help us #endpolio. Pass the torch & donate today: endpolio.org

Facebook and Instagram:

I’m carrying the torch to reach #zerocases. I challenge you to donate and help us #endpolio. Share the torch and donate today: endpolio.org