Kara Dardeno, a local lawyer and a member of the Somerville Rotary Club, will plunge into the ocean February 11 to help Rotary raise money to eradicate polio in the world.  The Plunge, from Gloucester’s Long Beach, is a regional Rotary fundraiser.

Rotary International has worked for years to wipe out polio.  Since 1988, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99 percent, from about 350,000 cases annually to fewer than 650 cases reported so far for 2011.  To date, Rotarians worldwide have contributed more than $1 billion toward the eradication of polio, a cause Rotary took on in 1985. In 1988, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention joined Rotary as spearheading partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

More recently, the Gates Foundation has become a major supporter. In 2007, the Gates Foundation gave Rotary a $100 million challenge grant for polio eradication, increasing it to $355 million in 2009. Rotary agreed to raise $200 million in matching funds by 30 June 2012 and, because Rotary was able to raise more than that by 2011, the Gates Foundation gave Rotary another $50 million for this worthy cause.

But Rotary – and people at risk of polio – need your help too.  Local clubs like the one in Somerville raise money every year to help with this effort – and Kara is willing to jump into the ocean to demonstrate her commitment.  Please join Kara and the Somerville Rotary Club by sponsoring Kara.   Pledges can be made out to Rotary District 7930 Polar Plunge! and mailed to Ann Kirby, 4 Melanie Lane, Arlington, MA 02474 or pledges can be made on-line at http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/karadardeno/rotarydistrict7930polarplunge .  Thank you for your support.