During this COVID-19 pandemic, service clubs and charities found fundraising difficult. Shutdowns caused postponement or cancellation of planned events, while the need for funds increased as more and more businesses were forced to close.

However, the members of D9560 Passport Rotary Club, remained enthusiastic and found a unique way to find much needed funds for Rotary’s Number One Priority – Ending Polio. They found a supplier who provided stuffed toy koalas, arranged to have them manufactured in an End Polio shirt and launched Polio Koala last year. The project has proved to be a real winner and on 1 April 2022 it was licensed by Rotary International as an official fundraising initiative.

Polio Koalas – affectionately known as PKs – have been purchased by Rotarians in the USA, the UK, Canada, France, Switzerland, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Germany where Holger Knaack, Rotary International President 2020-2021, thought the koala was very cute and a great way to promote Rotary’s End Polio campaign.

A consignment of Polio Koalas was sent to the Rotary Convention in Houston and they sold out in two and a half hours. Thanks to Colleen Rose Jones who set up booth number 425 in the House of Friendship and handled all the sales. PK was photographed everywhere around the Houston Convention Centre and was even photographed with the big koala that is the mascot for the RI Convention in Melbourne in 2023.

One PK was purchased by PDG of District 6910, Judge Garland Moore, from Conyers, Georgia and will sit on his bench at the Municipal Court of Conyers. Another was purchased by John G. Kramb, a PDG of District 7390 and a member of the International Fellowship of Motorcycle Riders (IFMR) North America chapter. IFMR members rode to Houston from all corners of the USA to attend the Convention. PK, who is now officially a bikie, is riding with John back home to Orrtanna Pennsylvania.

Many people think that polio should not be a priority in our current environment; however, unfortunately we have had six new cases this year bringing the total to eight and unless we entirely eradicate this disease, we leave ourselves open to a resurgence. As long as a single child remains infected, children in all countries are at risk of contracting polio. Failure to eradicate polio from these last remaining endemic countries – Afghanistan and Pakistan – could result in as many as 200,000 new cases every year, within 10 years, all over the world.

If you would like to support our fundraiser, the cost for a Polio Koala is $33.00 plus postage. Please email PolioKoala@outlook.com to place your order.