All aboard for a polio-free world!

Express train to eradicate polio

20121029_Rotarytrain — Start of the ‘End Polio Now’ intercity train: 26 October 2012 at 16.29, from Hamburg to Dresden, Germany. Over the next 12 months, this special ‘End Polio Now’ locomotive will traverse Germany’s railnetwork of 14,000 kilometres. Rotary RPIC/P. Hübner

26 October 2012 – To mark World Polio Day, Rotary Germany engaged in an innovative partnership with German rail-network Deutsche Bahn. The ‘End Polio Now’ locomotive went on its maiden run on 26 October, departing Hamburg at 16.29 in direction of Dresden.

For the next 12 months, this locomotive will traverse Germany’s 14,000 kilometre-long railways, raising awareness about polio eradication and inviting tens of thousands of travellers to join Rotary in their noble fight against the disease.

The activity is just one of thousands being undertaken by Rotary’s 1.2 million members worldwide, to further garner global support for the eradication effort. Rotary was the first with a vision of a polio-free world, launching its PolioPlus programme in 1985. Since then, Rotary International has contributed well over US$1 billion to the cause.

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