Not long ago, the world was paralyzed by the fear of polio. More than 125 countries were polio endemic, and thousands of families watched in anguish as the disease killed or crippled 1,000 people a day, most of them children.

In response to this suffering, Rotary began planning in the early 1980s for one of the most ambitious humanitarian programs ever undertaken by a private entity. In 1985, it launched PolioPlus, a multimillion-dollar initiative to immunise all the world's children against polio.

Since 1985, more than two billion children have received the oral polio vaccine and since then reported polio cases have dropped 99.8% from 350,000 a year to fewer than 2,000 a year. However in spite of this three countries; Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan - remain endemic. Although tremendous progress has been made, the world is still not yet polio free. The poliovirus knows no boundaries; it can spread from an endemic country into polio-free areas. As long as one case of polio remains in the world, no child is safe from this deadly disease.

Despite the enormous resources already committed, more money is urgently needed to reach the children in the three remaining endemic countries. Recognising Rotary's resolve to eradicate polio through its extensive volunteer network, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded Rotary a US$350 million grant. In return Rotary is committed to raising US$200 million by 30June 2012. Consequently, every Rotary, Interact and Rotaract club in the world is being asked to organise a public fundraising event to help meet this challenge, to "END POLIO NOW"

This is why we in the Rotary Club of Enniskillen are running our "GOLF BALL DROP" on 24 June at the Lough Erne Golf Resort. Not only are we asking all Rotary clubs in Ireland to support the event by purchasing golf balls at £50 or €50 each, we are also asking our own Rotarians, their families, friends and colleagues to do the same. The six numbered golf balls when dropped from a helicopter hovering above the green, which land nearest to the flag marker will each win, in descending value, one of our generous cash prizes, the top one being £5,000.

The event which is open to the public is intended to be a "FAMILY FUN DAY OUT", where the hotel will be offering a reasonably priced Sunday lunch, with complimentary glass of wine, there will be a Silver Band, Bouncy Castle and Coconut Shy to entertain old and young alike and the climax of the day will be the "GOLF BALL DROP" itself. Entrance to the event is free, however it is hoped that some members of the public will purchase some of the remaining numbered golf balls, which will be on sale right up to the time they are loaded onto the helicopter for the drop. Those who cannot stretch to £50 to purchase a golf ball for a chance to win one of our major prizes will hopefully support the other entertainment attractions or make donations into our "End Polio Now" collection boxes.

We hope that the people of Fermanagh and beyond will support this very necessary and worthwhile charity event and look forward to seeing a good crowd on Sunday 24 June.