October 27, 2026: What do Halloween fun and the fight to end polio have in common? The power of community coming together to make a difference! On October 24, World Polio Day, members of the Rotary Club of West Ottawa joined other Rotary clubs and families at Wickedly Westboro for an afternoon of Halloween treats, games and conversations about Rotary's global mission to end polio.
Local Fun, Global Impact!
Our club members welcomed little ghouls and goblins with Halloween treats and a fun game of "Cornholio for Polio," bringing a little friendly competition to an important cause. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with our community, engage families and share why ending polio matters.
From colourful costumes and Halloween candy to friendly games and purple pinkies, the afternoon offered plenty of opportunities to introduce families to Rotary's work and the global effort to eradicate polio.
Why Does Rotary Fight Polio?
For more than 45 years, Rotary has been at the forefront of the global effort to eradicate polio. As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), Rotary has helped reduce polio cases worldwide by more than 99.9%, contributed more than US$2.9 billion to eradication efforts and helped protect more than 3 billion children in 122 countries through vaccination.
These are extraordinary achievements, but the work is not finished. Wild poliovirus remains endemic in two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. Continued vaccination, disease surveillance, fundraising and public awareness are essential to reaching every child and achieving a polio-free world.
A Little Purple Goes a Long Way
One of the activities at Wickedly Westboro was Purple Pinkies for Polio, where children could have a fingernail painted purple as a symbol of Rotary's commitment to ending polio.
During polio immunization campaigns in many countries, health workers mark a child's little finger with purple ink after administering the oral polio vaccine. This simple practice helps vaccination teams identify which children have already received their vaccine.
At Wickedly Westboro, our purple fingernails were a fun way to share that story and help families understand how Rotary and its partners are working to protect children around the world.
Why World Polio Day Matters
World Polio Day reminds us that global change starts with people taking action, whether through international vaccination campaigns, fundraising initiatives, community events or simply starting a conversation.
The Rotary Club of West Ottawa was proud to bring the message of polio eradication to the streets of Westboro, proving that even a little Halloween fun can help shine a light on a cause that affects children around the world.
A big thank-you to everyone who stopped by, played Cornholio for Polio, enjoyed a treat and learned more about Rotary's mission.
Every conversation helps. Every contribution counts. And every child deserves a future free from polio.
Together, we can make polio history!
Learn more about Rotary's global effort to end polio.
Published on: October 27, 2026
Prepared by: Henry Akanko, Rotary Club of West Ottawa Member