At 85, Volunteer Heads To Nigeria For Third Time

(WBBM) - An 85-year-old Arlington Heights woman is spending Thanksgiving away from her family and friends, leaving on Tuesday for Nigeria to immunize children against polio.

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We first told you about Mary Stitt two years ago.  She was only 83 then - and she spent that Thanksgiving in Nigeria, helping her fellow members of Rotary International immunize children against polio.

She says she's going back to immunize more children and to say thank you to other people working to stop polio.

"If an old lady wants to go and say thank you for making such a difference, that's great.  So I guess that's why I'm going back."

Mary Stitt says she's ready for this 12-day trip, her third trip to the west African nation.

"I go door-to-door just like the rest of them.  You know, I keep up with everyone.  Age is only a matter of how you want to look at it, you know?"

Stitt is the retired principal at an Arlington Heights elementary school that now bears her name, the Olive-Mary Stitt School.

She says she has some unfinished business in Nigeria.

"I saw a little girl, a 7-year-old, sitting on the ground because she had had polio. I purchased a wheelchair for this little girl for $150 and hopefully they were able to bring the wheelchair and give it to her.  And hopefully, it's made her life different.  I hope.

"So I would like to go back to that village."