Race the Sun!

Charlotte Smith's book, Race The Sun!, is really a story of a modern pioneer Woman. Although she acquired polio at 10 year old, Charlotte dreamed big dreams. She lived out her dreams in the 1950's as a student at University of Illinois as a part of a study of accessibility, which later led to the basis of universal standards of accessibility. She pursued women's rights and disability rights as she moved through her career at NASA in Houston, Texas from 1962-88. In her spare time, Charlotte pursued her pilot's license and enjoyed the freedom of piloting an airplane. Charlotte's story of perseverance, pluck, and overcoming barriers is one that will appeal to a wide audience. --Mary Matsukawa, Director, Maui Developmental Disabilities Division, State of Hawaii Department of Health As a 73-year-old woman who survived polio in 1948, I m keenly aware and enthusiastic about Rotary s efforts and fundraising campaign to eradicate polio. I deeply understand the importance of the Rotary clubs Herculean push to end poliomyelitis. It s as important now as the Salk/Sabin discoveries when I was a young girl in Illinois. With my pledge to the End Polio Now! campaign, I hope will bring much needed monetary resources to the eradication efforts in developing countries. I m offering a portion of the proceeds of the sale of my autobiography Race the Sun! to add to the campaign to match the challenge grants received from the Gates Foundation. I have pledged $5 per book to go to Rotary International fundraising efforts. Beginning in October 2011, I began my pledge and challenge on my Web site charlottegeorgesmith.com to encourage others to contribute to the Rotary International End Polio Now fundraising efforts.