In the unlikely event that you needed an excuse to eat pizza, you can now say you're doing it for a good cause.
The Rotary Club of Chatham will be holding its fifth annual Pizza for Polio fundraiser on Thursday, October 24. Any pizza orders on this day at participating locations will see a portion of sales be donated back to the Rotary Club of Chatham to help its efforts of ending polio worldwide. The fundraiser coincides with the date of World Polio Day.
According to Don "Sparky" Leonard, the district governor for Rotary District 6380, the rotary's mission to help end polio started over 30 years ago when a club member in India brought up the idea of creating a campaign to eradicate the highly infectious disease. It has since become one of the organization's top missions and Rotarians have contributed US$1.2 billion to help immunize more than two-billion children in 122 countries.
Leonard said the club has made great strides in its mission.
"We are now three years polio-free with no reported cases in Africa. We're just waiting for the World Health Organization to declare Africa polio-free," explained Leonard. "It's been a huge undertaking, a huge challenge but it's our promise to the children of this world that we will be eradicating polio."
Leonard said many people in North America are often surprised to learn that polio still exists. Although the Rotary Club remains very close to their goal of eliminating the disease, which can cause paralysis and death, he said there is still work to be done.
"We're down to only two countries left. Two endemic countries in Pakistan and Afghanistan. You can only imagine the fight that we have to try and inoculate those children there when we're dealing with the circumstances that are going on in those countries," he said.
The idea of the Pizza for Polio fundraiser started in Chatham-Kent and Leonard said that since then, many Rotary Clubs across the globe have adopted the concept. He adds that funds raised through pizza sales will be matched by Rotary partners.
"We've partnered with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation," Leonard explained. "So for every dollar that we are able to raise, they match two to one. If we're fortunate enough to raise $1,000, $2,000, $10,000. That turns into $3,000, $6,000, $30,000."
The following pizzerias will be taking part in Pizza for Polio on both takeout and dine-in orders: Konstantinos, Andy’s Place, Steve’s Pizzeria, Mike’s Place, Godfather’s Pizza, Original 2 Pizza, Boston Pizza, Pizza Tonite , Pie Zano’s , Qua Vadis Pizzeria, Koka’s pizza.
"So, we encourage everyone to buy pizza next week and the price will cost no extra money and you know you'll be doing good around the world," said Leonard.