Take the Polar Plunge to Help Fight Polio

SALEM, MA - Get ride to dive into the freezing waters of the Atlantic Ocean for a good cause later this month.

Rotary District 7930 will hold its 6th annual Polar Plunge on Saturday, January 23, at Long Beach in Gloucester at the Cape Ann Motor Inn. The event is part of Rotary International’s ongoing campaign to eradicate polio in our lifetime. More than 100 people are expected to plunge into the cold waters off Cape Ann this year including the Rotary Club of Salem. Last year, participants braved the icy waters, raising more than $120,000, significantly increasing the previous year’s amount.

Since 1985, Polio has become the signature cause for Rotary International as it has teamed up with partners including The Global Poverty Project, The Global Eradication Initiative, The World Health Organization, and UNICEF. Since that time, more than a billion dollars have been raised among Rotary clubs worldwide and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. When Rotary International took on the battle against this disease, more than 350,000 people spanning 125 countries were suffering from polio. Today, there are two countries awaiting eradication - Pakistan and Afghanistan. Nigeria marked a year without a new case just this past September and was removed from the endemic list. But funds raised for this campaign not only work to eradicate polio, they also strengthen our global responses to many communicable diseases such ebola.

As Salem Rotary member and Polar Plunger Joanne Scott said, “The Polar Plunge is an exhilarating experience! Of course this is because we are jumping into freezing water with our friends in total abandon! But this is joined with the idea of contributing to the elimination of a global scourge in our own lifetime.”
This year, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has again pledged a 2:1 match for every dollar Rotarians and friends raise toward eradication efforts (up to $35 million/year until 2018). For as little as $0.60, a donation can make the difference in changing a person’s life. Please support your local Rotarians as they brave the icy waters off Gloucester to help eradicate polio in our lifetime. The Rotary Club of Salem has set a goal of $2500.00, to aid in the district’s goal of raising $125,000. The district is utilizing an electronic fundraising process. Supporters are encouraged to log on to www.rotary7930.org and click on 2016 Polar Plunge or visit our mobile app at: app. mobilecause.com/vf/polio/salem rotary. You can make a pledge or even join the plunge team. Help Rotarians lead the way to eradicate this dreaded disease!

For more information on how the Rotary Club of Salem serves the local and global community, visit salemrotary.com or contact club President Mark Leavitt at 978-745-1067.