A boy has his pinkie marked to indicate he has received the polio vaccine. Photo courtesy of Dino Marzaro

I first discovered Rotary in 1998, when I joined the Rotary Club of Quebec City. For the past six years, I have tried to take part in a polio immunization trip every year, with the latest this July to Pakistan.

From 12-22 July, a team of three Rotarians from Quebec City, Canadian polio survivor and Rotarian Ramesh Ferris, and four Rotarians from the United States took part in immunization efforts in Karachi. Aziz Memon, chair of the Pakistan PolioPlus Committee, and Shaikh Jalaluddin, governor of District 3271, took care of our team from the minute we arrived. All eight members stayed together as a family, it was like we had known each other for a long time. But you know, it is easy if you share the same goal, to End Polio Now.

On the ground, we are moved by what we see. There are still cases of polio. The challenges are the same in many of the endemic countries: fighting myths about the vaccine, maintaining the cold chain, reaching all children with the drops.

While in Karachi, we watched a wonderful video Pakistan Rotaractors have made to promote polio vaccinations. Thanks to all the Rotarians in the world who are helping make a difference. We are united with the same goal of Peace Through Service.

I am proud to be a member of Rotary, one of the largest volunteer organization in the world. With your help, we will win the fight against polio.

• Learn how Rotary is working to eradicate polio
• Read other posts about polio eradication
• Contribute to End Polio Now