Oct. 24, 2022 is officially World Polio Day in the city of Woodstock and Cherokee County. The Woodstock City Council and the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners issued proclamations this month at the request of the Rotary Club of Towne Lake to raise awareness about polio and Rotary’s worldwide initiative to end the disease.

The Woodstock City Council issued the proclamation Oct. 10, and the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners issued the proclamation Oct. 18.

President Elect Tiffany Collins, Past President Robin Wright and Rotarian Lori Wright attending the Oct. 10 Woodstock City Council meeting to accept the proclamation from Woodstock Mayor Michael Caldwell. President Jim Klynman attended the Oct. 18 Board of Commissioners meeting to accept the proclamation from Commission Chairman Harry Johnston.

“I’d like to thank both the city of Woodstock and Cherokee County for proclaiming Oct. 24, 2022 as World Polio Day,” said Klynman. “We appreciate both governing bodies’ continued support of the Rotary Club of Towne Lake and our efforts in the community.”

World Polio Day is an international day of awareness of Rotary International’s efforts to eradicate the disease. Just a few years ago, polio cases were limited to Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to a recent global update, positive cases have now surfaced in Mozambique and Malawi. While most of the positive polio cases are in Africa and the Middle East, wild poliovirus has been detected in New York, the United Kingdom and Israel.

Rotary International has a goal of raising $50 million, which will secure a two to one match from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to help get over the finish line of eradicating polio. To learn more or to donate, visit www.endpolio.org.