Press Release

Rotary seeks Entry in the Guinness Book of World Records in a move to combat Polio

Nairobi, February 14, 2012…………On Saturday 25^th February 2012, hundreds of Kenyans will join an attempt to help Rotary International set a new world swimming record. The event in Kenya is part of a global fund-raising that will involve Rotary clubs on six continents and raise over Kshs 1 million to combat polio here in Kenya.

Organized locally by the Rotary Club of Nairobi, the event dubbed ‘End Polio Now’ will be held at the University of Nairobi pool from 1 to 5 pm with the main event; the Swimarathon taking place between 3 to 4 p.m..

Rotary International has been working to eliminate polio, a paralyzing childhood illness for over 25 years.

“Polio eradication is a key objective for Rotary International. The Rotary Club has joined hands with the Kenyan government and international health agencies to conduct mass immunizations campaigns. This is to ensure there are no more cases of polio in Kenya. So far, these combined efforts have produced substantial success” said Salome Gitoho, President of the Rotary Club of Nairobi.

In September 2011, in response to a recent case of wild poliovirus in Kenya, Rotary International provided a total of US$1.2 million in grants to the World Health Organization for countrywide polio immunization campaigns. Other seeking to eradicate polio include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which matched the US$ $200 million raised by Rotarians with a donation of US$350.

Since 1985, Rotary has contributed more than $1 billion to polio eradication.  

 “Kenya is well known for its runners, who hold most of the 37 Guinness World Records that belong to Kenya at present. If the swimmers succeed in setting the record for the most people swimming 100 meters in a single hour, then Rotary Club of Nairobi and the swimmers will have contributed to the Rotary International Global Guinness World Record” added Salome Gitoho,

The Rotary Club of Nairobi hopes up to 600 swimmers will complete 100 meters non-stop during the event at the University of Nairobi pool. Once Guinness has certified the record, Kenyan world record certificates will be available to participants. Globally, Rotary expects to break the current world record, 2,533 people swimming 100 meters non-stop in one hour.

Although the event has grown out of Rotary Club of Grantham, England’s annual Swimarathon, which has successfully raised tens of thousands of pounds over the years, in 2009, Rotary Club of Nairobi held its own Swimarathon at the same venue.

Proceeds from the event will be used to support the End Polio Now campaign.

For more information on the event visit: http://www.rotarynairobi.org/rotarynairobi/Swimarathon/

For more details contact:

Cedric Lumiti

0722 227502

Cedric.lumiti@hkstrategies.co.ke

Lilian Nganda

0722 362 152

Lilian.nganda@hkstrategies.co.ke

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