JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The fight to end polio worldwide is grabbing Jacksonville's attention.
Rotary International held a luncheon Monday to remind everyone just how close it is to eradicating the childhood disease.
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Polio is an infectious virus that's been around for centuries. It affects the spinal cord and can cause paralysis.
Although the number of cases is down 99 percent, the work to end polio is not done.
Rotary International, along with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is raising funds that will be used toward providing and distributing vaccinations.
The group's future president, John Germ, has this message to anyone who may hesitate to donate:
"Would you want your child or grandchild to be crippled? The answer to that is no," Germ said. "Would you want your child or grandchild to die from a virus that we know we have the medicine to cure that virus? The answer to that question is no. It takes money. The rotary is in the process of raising money. We have to raise $35 million a year if we're going to spend it."
Rotary International also recognized Jaguars owner Shad Khan for becoming its most recent ambassador to this End Polio campaign.
To donate, go to www.endpolio.org.