Fighting to Finish: A Personal Mission to Eradicate Polio
In this month’s District 6650 Podcast, District Governor Ryan Boyce welcomes Past District Governor and current District Polio Chair Geoff Goll for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about Rotary’s ongoing fight to eradicate polio. In recognition of World Polio Day on October 24, Geoff shares the experiences that have shaped his lifelong commitment to this cause.
Geoff’s connection to polio began as a child in 1955, when he contracted the disease and spent months at Akron Children’s Hospital, paralyzed from the waist down. His recovery coincided with the development of Dr. Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine, and Geoff became one of the original participants in the vaccine testing program.
“I was one of the original Salk polio rangers,” Geoff recalls, describing his involvement in the early vaccine program. That experience became the foundation for decades of Rotary service. Having served as District Polio Chair for more than 25 years, Geoff has dedicated much of his Rotary journey to educating others and raising funds to eliminate the disease.
During the conversation, Geoff reflects on the extraordinary progress made through Rotary’s global eradication campaign. What once affected hundreds of thousands of children annually has been reduced to just a handful of cases in the remaining endemic countries. But he cautions that the fight is far from over. The virus can travel anywhere, and even a single outbreak can quickly spread.
“Why do we even bother to raise money anymore?” Geoff asks, before explaining why continued vigilance is essential. His answer is rooted in experience: “I don't want any other parent to go through what my parents went through.”
District 6650 Rotarians are doing their part through fundraising initiatives like Purple Pinky, which connects local communities to Rotary’s worldwide effort. With the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation matching every dollar raised by Rotary two to one, local contributions have an even greater impact. Geoff proudly recognizes that District 6650’s 48 clubs raised $35,000 for polio eradication last year.
His message to Rotarians is unmistakable: “We can't stop, Ryan. We cannot stop.”
Geoff also reminds us that awareness is just as important as fundraising. As fewer people have firsthand memories of polio, Rotarians must continue sharing their stories and educating future generations about the devastating effects of this preventable disease.
As Geoff puts it, “We have to market a very ugly disease so that we ultimately can kill it.”
Watch the latest District 6650 Podcast to hear Geoff’s remarkable story and learn how you can help Rotary finish the fight. Together, we can make a world free of polio a reality.