Goldfields cyclists to “Pedal for Polio” in annual awareness campaign

The Welkom Square event aims to raise funds for global vaccination programme

WELKOM – The annual Polio Awareness campaign falls in November, and participants in the Goldfields will pedal for polio in a fundraising initiative aimed at eradicating the disease worldwide.

The “Pedal for Polio” event will take place at Welkom Square on Saturday, 1 November.

Teams Compete for Crucial Cause

Jill Lombard of Flamingo Rotary said there will be four stationary bicycles and four teams of four people. These teams will garner financial support from sponsors to enable them to cycle for an hour in aid of the eradicate polio campaign.

The money collected will go to Rotary International to purchase vaccinations for the remaining countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan where the polio virus is still found.

“Remember, exposure to polio is only an aeroplane trip away,” said Lombard.

Global Eradication Mission

She said it is the mission of Rotary International to eradicate polio worldwide. This terrible virus wreaked havoc in Welkom in the early 1950s, and the memory of the devastation still remains in the minds of living survivors.

The campaign represents part of ongoing global efforts to eliminate polio, building on decades of progress that has reduced cases by more than 99 per cent since 1988.

The Welkom event demonstrates how local communities can contribute meaningfully to international health initiatives whilst raising awareness about diseases that continue to threaten vulnerable populations.

This haunting photograph from the 1950’s used as illustration captures a moment of silent struggle: children lying inside enormous machines known as “iron lungs.” These devices were their only chance at survival, helping them breathe when polio had paralyzed their muscles.

Polio was a terrifying disease, especially for children, often leaving them paralyzed or unable to breathe without mechanical assistance.

The iron lung worked by creating rhythmic pressure that pushed air in and out of the body, mimicking the movement of healthy lungs. It saved countless lives, but life inside it was deeply isolating. The children could move only their heads and depended entirely on nurses for everything — eating, reading, even playing.

Then came a breakthrough that changed history. In the 1950s, Dr. Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine. Almost overnight, the disease began to vanish. What had once been a global fear became an almost forgotten chapter — thanks to science and compassion.

This photograph is more than a glimpse into the past. It is a reminder of how far we’ve come — and of how vaccines have spared millions from suffering. – Live healthy live better (Facebook)