Rotary Recognizes Ed Harding with Paul Harris Fellowship

Wakefield Rotarian Ed Harding was recognized Tuesday with a Paul Harris Fellowship Award by Rotary District 7930. The award is in recognition of Harding's contributions to the Rotary district's efforts to eradicate polio. Co-owner of HD Physical Therapy, Harding recruited staff, patients, friends and family to sponsor his plunge into the icy Atlantic during last February's Polar Plunge. Raising just over $4k, Harding's team was one of the top 5 contributors to the district's event which included over 48 Rotary clubs, service areas and towns. Harding's team served as part of the Wakefield Rotary Club's larger team, and together raised just over $20k, the highest amount of funds raised by any club in the district. This past Tuesday, Rotary District 7930 Assistant Governor Joan Arsenault was on hand to recognize Harding and explained, "The district wishes to recognize Ed's efforts to help eradicate polio from the world. By engaging his friend, family, and staff, he also was able to raise awareness that this disease still exists." Overall, the district raised just over $100k and with a 2:1 match from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, paid for about 500,000 polio vaccines.  

For more information on Rotary or to join the Wakefield's Polar Plunge team this year, email them at wakefieldrotaryclub@yahoo.com.