Our participation started weeks before the actual walk. Working in partnership with Edgerton High School, members of the Edgerton Rotary Club had the opportunity to speak to the entire high school student body during an assembly. Rotarians shared information about polio, emphasizing that most students don’t know anyone with polio due to the successful efforts to eradicate this disease. They shared the role that Rotary has played in working with global partners to help get people vaccinated. Thanks to student council advisor Georgia Paulson, members of the high school student council joined Rotarians on the stage and helped toss out Polio Walk T-shirts to help promote our event.
Prior to the polio walk, our local newspaper, the Edgerton Reporter, published a lengthy and informative story about our upcoming event. We’re grateful for this partnership.
On Saturday, October 24, members, friends, and family gathered to begin our walk through downtown Edgerton. Carrying signs and wearing matching T-shirts, club members hoped to raise awareness about Rotary’s efforts to eradicate polio. Our walk was made even more special knowing that one of our participants is a polio survivor! Barb Brown joined us on our walk and had the chance to talk to the young people in our group who may never have met anyone with polio.
Following our walk, club members joined together at the Porter Center, a meeting space owned by the local VFW. Walkers enjoyed custard donated by our local Culver’s and had the chance to continue the conversation about the power of community, collaboration, and partnerships while celebrating the work being done to end polio. Club members have committed to pledging at least $100 each to the PolioPlus Society.