Purple for a Purpose {Charity}

Purple Pinkies for Polio – World Polio Day October 24

by Kristi Stamey, Woodhaven-Brownstown Rotary chapter

One of Rotary International's goals is to work on the eradication of Polio, a disease that many Americans don't remember.

Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious disease that most commonly affects children under the age of 5.

Most know it as poliovirus. The virus is spread person to person, typically through contaminated water. It can attack the nervous system, and in some instances, lead to paralysis. Although there is no cure, there is a safe and effective vaccine, one which Rotary and our partners use to immunize over 2.5 billion children worldwide.

So, what is Rotary, you may be wondering? Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change, across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.

We are about 99% of the way to the goal of Polio being wiped from the Earth. But as Rotarians, we don't do things 99% of the way. We will work until we reach 100%.

In order to help reach that 100% we need help getting out the word, we need help in raising funds and awareness that there are still people left to help.

The Woodhaven-Brownstown Rotary chapter has partnered with KC Springberg of Northern Nail Polish to create a signature nail polish, "Purple for a Purpose" to paint pinkies (and 9 other finger too!) purple to raise awareness of polio, Rotary's mission and to help raise funds for the cause.