音樂會募集了根除小兒麻痺基金並提升對此一目標的體認

Concert raises awareness, funds for polio eradication

By Antoinette Tuscano 

Rotary International News -- 3 December 2009

小提琴名家伊札克帕爾曼12/2號在美國紐約林肯中心的愛弗莉費雪音樂廳，表演藝術節慈善義演音樂會期間，為募集根除小兒麻痺基金並加強對於扶輪根除小兒麻痺的體認而努力，門票全數銷售一空。

Violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman played to a sold-out audience in New York City's Avery Fisher Hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on 2 December, during a benefit concert to raise money and awareness for Rotary's efforts to eradicate polio.

帕爾曼在募集根除小兒麻痺基金慈善音樂會中，觀眾多次起立熱烈鼓掌。有不同的組織與帕爾曼一起共襄盛舉，世界知名的紐約愛樂雜誌為了這史上第一次特別做了紀錄。

Perlman received several standing ovations during the fundraiser, a benefit concert for polio. The organization joined with Perlman and the world-renowned New York Philharmonic for the first time to present the event.

“這場音樂會十分令人振奮,”Charles Murphy 7950地區(包含部分美國麻薩諸塞州以及新罕布夏)總監當選人說。Murphy和一些身障的朋友共同工作，而且他一位最好的朋友曾經經歷過小兒麻痺。他說”我有一個憧憬就是終止小兒麻痺等疾病。”

"The concert was very uplifting," said Charles Murphy, governor-elect of District 7950 (parts of Massachusetts and New Hampshire). Murphy works with people with disabilities, and one of his best friends has survived polio. "I have a vision of polio ending."

帕爾曼對根除小兒麻痺努力引起熱烈的迴響，他自己於四歲的時候曾經遭受病魔的困擾但他克服了身體上的障礙，並成為了當今世上最有名的音樂家之一，曾得過15次葛萊美獎，並且於2008年獲得終生成就獎。

The polio eradication effort resonates strongly with Perlman, who contracted the disease at age four and overcame physical challenges to become one of the world's most celebrated musicians, winning 15 Grammy Awards as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.

扶輪基金保管委員會主委艾思悌士在音樂會後的接待會上對於帕爾曼挺身對抗小兒麻痺義舉，頒發獎勵。

Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair Glenn E. Estess Sr. presented Perlman with an award for his help in fighting polio during a reception after the concert.

“任何人都沒有理由應該得到這種病。”帕爾曼說

"There’s no reason anyone should get this disease," said Perlman.

根除小兒麻痺運動在本週得更多的好消息，扶輪社宣布募集兩億美金來接受來自於比爾和梅林達蓋茲基金會3.55億美元贈款的挑戰

已經越過了一半的門檻。

The polio eradication campaign received more good news this week with the announcement that Rotary has surpassed the halfway mark in its effort to raise US$200 million to match $355 million in challenge grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

扶輪社員，其中許多人專程從很遠的地方來參與此一歷史性事件，且此次活動被視為是非常成功的音樂會。安．李．赫西，墨菲的朋友和一名地區總監當選人表示，這次的活動確實有助於提高人們對於小兒麻痺的認識。

Rotarians, many of whom traveled from great distances to attend the historic event, deemed the concert a success. Ann Lee Hussey, Murphy's friend and a district governor-elect, said the event really helped raise awareness about polio.

Casco Bay-Sunrise(波特蘭區)，緬因州，扶輪社成員赫西是扶輪小兒麻痺倖存者及協會行動小組主席。

Hussey, a member of the Rotary Club of Casco Bay-Sunrise (Portland Area), Maine, is chair of the Rotarian Action Group for Polio Survivors and Associates.

身為小兒麻痺倖存者，她記得患者被人們遠遠避開而倖存者由於害怕出面而避而不談。但赫西鼓勵小兒麻痺的倖存者將他們的故事分享給扶輪社及其他人，因為這能夠鼓勵扶輪社員們繼續努力推動終止此一病症。"當小兒麻痺成為歷史時，這將會是一種解脫”她說。

A polio survivor herself, she remembers when people with the disease were shunned, and survivors didn’t want to talk about it for fear of standing out. But Hussey says she encourages polio survivors to share their story with Rotary clubs and others, because it helps motivate Rotarians to continue the push to end the disease. “It will be such a relief when polio is gone,” she said.

現在這場戰爭仍持續著，而終止小兒麻痺為扶輪的首要目標。

For now, the battle continues, and ending polio is Rotary’s top priority.

國際扶輪，世界衛生組織，聯合國兒童基金會，和美國疾病控制和預防中心發在1988年發起了全球根除小兒麻痺計畫。

Rotary International, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988.

從那時以來，小兒麻痺病例數量已經減少了百分之九十九以上，預防了五百萬兒童癱瘓麻痺和250,000人死亡。然而，預防最後的一個百分點是最艱難且最昂貴的。野生小兒麻痺病毒仍然存在於4國家：阿富汗，印度，尼日利亞和巴基斯坦。

Since then, the number of polio cases has been slashed by more than 99 percent, preventing five million cases of childhood paralysis and 250,000 deaths. However, the final 1 percent of cases are the most difficult and expensive to prevent. The wild poliovirus remains endemic in just four countries: Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan.

了解更多關於小兒麻痺：

    * 閱讀關於小兒麻痺和你可以做些什麼幫助。

    * 觀看根除小兒麻痺所需之努力的影片。

    * 觀看小兒麻痺患者名人表單

採取行動對抗小兒麻痺症。現在線上捐贈，以支持根除工作。

Learn more about polio:

    * Read about polio and what you can do to help. .

    * Watch a video about what it takes to eradicate polio.

    * See a list of famous people who have had polio.

Take a stand against polio. Donate online now to support the eradication effort.