World Polio Day is October 24, the birthday of Jonas Salk, the American researcher who changed history by developing the first polio vaccine in 1955. Each October, Rotary Clubs around the world mark the occasion with events and fundraisers supporting Rotary International and its partners in the eradication of polio around the world.

For the past several years, the Rotary Clubs of Fayette and Rocheport have teamed up for an afternoon of cornhole, prizes, and a little friendly competition, all while helping Rotary work toward a world without polio. This year, Rotary District Governor Brad Martens has challenged every club in the district to raise $1,500 for Polio Plus. Last year, the Fayette Rotary Club exceeded that goal by raising more than $1,800, and members hope to raise even more this year.

The Cornhole Tournament will be Sunday, October 11, beginning at 1 p.m. at Meriwether’s Café and Grill in Rocheport. The two-person, double-elimination tournament is open to everyone, with an entry fee of just $25 per team. The winning team will take home $50 in prize money, while the top team made up of Rotarians will earn the coveted “bragging rights” trophy. There will also be a trophy for the youth team, made up of players 18 years of age or younger, that finishes highest in the tournament.

Even if cornhole isn’t your game, there will be another way to join the fun. The Fayette Rotary Club will sell raffle tickets for each of four framed prints at the tournament and again at the club’s Trivia Night event on November 11. 

Meriwether’s will have food and drinks available for purchase throughout the afternoon, making the tournament a great opportunity to enjoy some food, watch the competition, and support a good cause. Proceeds from the tournament and raffle will support Rotary International’s End Polio Now campaign and its continuing effort to eradicate polio worldwide.

Registration for the tournament is from noon to 1 p.m. on-site at Meriwether’s. For details or early registration, contact Gale Schafer at 573-239-0491 or Erik Martinez at 817-480-3404.

Come toss a few bags, cheer on the players, try your luck in the raffle, and help Fayette Rotary take another step toward a world free of polio.​