We ask: WHAT WOULD INSPIRE ONE MAN TO FLY OFF THE SUMMIT OF MOUNT EVEREST?
Answer: TO END POLIO NOW.
Polio is an insidious, potentially fatal infectious disease that strikes young children. It is historically the world’s greatest cause of disability and can cause permanent paralysis …
but it can be prevented, by simple vaccination.
Rotary began the fight against polio back in 1985 when there were 350,000 new cases reported every year, spread across 125 countries. With persistent efforts through Rotary’s PolioPlus vaccination campaign the cases of polio have been reduced by more than 99 percent, but until it is totally eradicated then the threat remains. If we don’t finish the fight now, the wild polio virus could quickly resurge, with devastating consequences.
ABOUT KEN
Rotary has had many champions working for the cause … and one such champion is Ken Hutt of the Rotary Club of Berry, New South Wales Australia.
In 2014 Ken climbed the World’s sixth highest mountain, Mt Cho Oyu in Tibet, and then successfully paraglided back to Base Camp, all for raising awareness for the PolioPlus campaign. Now, he is taking on another challenge for PolioPlus … by planning a World Record assault and paraglide from the summit of Everest in May 2022.
Everest mountaineer Dr John Taske with a special message for Ken Hutt
