World Polio Day, on October 24, is a time to celebrate progress and rededicate ​ourselves to finishing the job of eradicating the disease. Let’s also honour the ​countless Rotarians and Rotaractors who have championed the cause. One such ​hero was John Sever.

Sever, who died in April at age 92, was a member of the Rotary Club of Potomac, ​Maryland. An infectious disease specialist at the U.S. National Institutes of ​Health, Sever recommended in 1979 that Rotary make polio eradication a global ​goal, expanding what began as a national vaccine campaign in the Philippines.

It is hard to imagine where we would stand today without Sever’s decades of ​leadership, expertise, and advocacy. In August, I was honoured to present his ​family with the International Service Award for a Polio-Free World and a crystal ​recognition piece in Sever’s name.

What he helped initiate, PolioPlus, became an example of implementing an ​action plan in Rotary. Thanks to him; and the volunteerism and generosity of ​countless others, polio cases have decreased by more than 99% since 1988.

The path to our goal could not have been predicted and may take longer than ​expected. There are sometimes setbacks, as we experienced with increased ​cases in Pakistan and Afghanistan this year.

But we get back on our feet. This year, we ended an outbreak of wild poliovirus in ​Malawi and Mozambique that was caused by an importation from Pakistan in ​2021, and we decreased variant poliovirus cases. Rotary and our partners stay ​flexible, developing new tactics while staying focused on the long-term goal, with ​optimism.

Delivering a polio-free world with stronger health systems and communities is ​not only right for humanity but also a smart investment in future generations. It ​will be Rotary’s greatest gift to the world.

Countless heroes have followed Sever’s lead. From the club president who ​organised her first End Polio Now fundraiser to the advocates, donors, and ​volunteers. We are all part of this story.

With your support, this year’s World Polio Day will be the greatest ever. Donate ​to End Polio Now at rotarygbi.org/donatepolio.

Your gift will be tripled, thanks to the 2-to-1 match by the Gates Foundation. Join ​or initiate a PolioPlus Society in your club or district. Raise awareness in your ​community about how we will eradicate a human disease for only the second ​time in history.

Whatever you do, do it for future generations who will live without this ​debilitating disease. Let us deliver on our promise to the world’s children and ​end polio forever.