PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
CHILI COOK-OFF PARTICIPANTS … Among the participants in the Bryan Rotary Club’s Pours 4 Polio chili cook-off event on Wednesday, October 22, at Stoney Ridge Winery were, from left: Georgetta Kuhman, Lesley Goebel, and Heather Johnson.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
The Bryan Rotary Club held its annual Pours 4 Polio benefit on Wednesday, October 22, at Stoney Ridge Winery.
Since 2018, the Bryan Rotary Club has hosted the event, in which all the proceeds have gone towards the prevention of this infectious disease.
It’s also Rotary International’s major project, where polio currently circulates in only a few countries; polio is highly infectious and spreads rapidly.
“All of the Rotary Clubs are challenged with having an event to raise money so we can stop polio altogether throughout the world,” said Bryan Rotary member Marie Campbell. “Our club has done this event since 2018.”
The disease, which affects mainly children, is transmitted via contaminated water and food supplies.
Five to ten percent of the cases are fatal. As long as polio threatens even one child anywhere in the world, children everywhere are at risk.
Only the global eradication of polio will ensure that no child ever again suffers its devastating effects.
This year’s Pours 4 Polio featured a chili cook-off with six members participating, a 50/50 raffle, and an opportunity to win many unique prizes generously donated by Rotary Club members.
Campbell added that Stoney Ridge Winery had donated a portion of every purchased adult drink towards the Pours 4 Polio benefit.
Since the Bryan Rotary Club started its annual Pours 4 Polio event, Campbell said they have averaged between $3,000 – $5,000 in proceeds over the past few years. All of it goes towards Rotary International.
“While we don’t have polio in this country, it still exists in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Indonesia until it’s totally gone from there,” noted Campbell.
A number of corporate sponsors helped support the Pours 4 Polio event, including Bard Manufacturing, Ohio Gas Company, Andres, O’Neil & Lowe Insurance, WesBanco Bank, Elli Ann’s Boutique, Amerimade Realty, State Bank & Trust, Farmers & Merchants State Bank, Bryan Ford-Lincoln, Inc., and Spangler Candy Company.