Rotary International has been working for 30 years to eradicate polio, a paralyzing and sometimes fatal disease that strikes mostly children under age 5. In those 30 years, polio cases have been driven down from more than 300,000 per year to the current total of nine (in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria). New polio cases must be reduced to zero and stay there for three years to confirm the battle to eliminate polio has been won. The cost to win is $1.5 billion.

To help reach this goal, Skydive Harbor Springs in Michigan hosted Jump for Polio at its alternate location in Charlevoix. Twenty-two Rotarians from around Michigan volunteered to make tandem skydives and for that privilege raise at least $1,000 each to end polio. Weathered out on the original date, the 22 showed up on a sunny Sunday, June 10. The result was a day full of skydives with spectacular panoramas, great camaraderie and $40,000 raised! The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is matching the amount two to one, for a total of $120,000 to eliminate polio from the earth forever.

The skydiving community and Rotarians really came through for the world’s children. Anyone wishing to donate may visit endpolionow.org.