Next stop: Angola…

The soccer ball touches down in Angola on February 25 into the capable hands of President Manuel de Sousa of Luanda Rotary (left).

Kick off …

The Cape of Storms lived up to its historic reputation yesterday when gale force winds and rain in the form of a “Black South Easter” forced Rotarians to abandon the EPN lighting and KPOA launch event at the amphitheatre of the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town and move to a nearby restaurant. It evolved into an event with a difference that resulted in excellent fellowship for hundreds of Rotarians and special guests in a jam packed venue.

Launching the ball needed special skill, with a not so mighty kick by Hans Vonk – goal keeper and Captain of Ajax, Cape Town. Hans Vonk, 40 grew up and played in Holland for Amsterdam Ajax, but he was born in Alberton, South African, hence his right to play for Bafana Bafana. He has represented South Africa 43 times, including the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

The illumination of the Old Port Captain Building with the EndPolioNow and Kick Polio Out of Africa logos, with the backdrop of iconic Table Mountain – lit in white light and swathed in cloud – sent a powerful message that our goal to eradicate Polio is within sight.

It is achievable. Failure is not an option!

District Governor Mike Saxby and Alderman Ian Nielson, Executive Deputy Mayor, City of Cape Town

Special thanks to Rotarian Janey Ball and her PR team in Cape Town who provided the platform for the launch. Celebrations also included a Rotary Expo of four days at the Waterfront and the declaration of February 23 as Rotary Day by the Mayor of the City of Cape Town.

Photographs of the Rotary Day landmark lighting event at the V&A Waterfront can be seen using the following links:

Album 1 and Album 2.

No ordinary soccer ball…

This historic ball is symbolic of Rotary’s hope for healing, harmony and peace on the continent of Africa as it travels “boot-by-boot” on its trans-Africa journey through 22 polio-affected countries. The symbolic ”kick-off” by Ajax, Cape Town goalkeeper – Hans Vonk, is at 19:00 at the EndPolioNow iconic landmark lighting event at the V&A Waterfront this evening. The ball was donated by “Soul of Africa” – a Rotary project in Kwa Zulu Natal that raises money to assist organisations which house, feed and educate AIDS orphans through the sale of moccasin shoes.

Mayor Dan Plato declared 23 February Rotary Day in Cape Town and signed the soccer ball to mark the start of the campaign. Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato with KPOA campaign manager June Webber after the signing (right).

Polio is an ancient phenomenon…

An Egyptian stele portraying a priest with a withered leg, leaning on a staff, suggests that polio has been endemic for thousands of years. Photo courtesy: World Health Organization.

5 days to go to kick-off!

Don’t miss the EndPolioNow iconic landmark lighting event and launch of the Kick Polio out of Africa campaign at the Amphitheatre at the V&A Waterfront on Tuesday, February 23. Fun starts at 19:00.

We Are This Close to Ending Polio.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu supports the Kick Polio out of Africa campaign wholeheartedly.

Kick off!

This blog is the home of Kick Polio Out of Africa, an awareness campaign which will be launched on February 23, 2010 with the iconic landmark lighting event at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town at the tip of Africa. This initiative, driven in the first instance by the Reach Out to Africa (ROTA) committee, will commence with a symbolic “kick off” of a soccer ball from South Africa and travel through the 22 Polio-affected countries in Africa, finally traveling to the RI Convention in Montreal.

You are invited to bookmark or re-visit this blog regularly for news and updates. Additionally you can sign up to our eMail notification service that keeps you informed about the progress of the campaign. Simply enter your eMail address in the field on the sidebar and click ‘subscribe’.