THE campaign to end polio will be supported in Rugby to mark World Polio Day next month.
Rotary Rugby Dunsmore Club will be one of thousands of Rotary clubs across the world taking action to raise awareness, funds and support to end polio on and around Friday October 24.
Past District Governors Paul and Bala Jaspa will address members on the End Polio Campaign.
Rugby Borough Council will light up Rugby Town Hall with purple light – inspired by the colour of the dye painted on the little finger of a child to signify they have received a polio vaccine – to mark World Polio Day.
And club members will take part in the John Clutton Memorial Walk at Draycote Water, starting at 10am on Sunday October 26.
John Clutton was a founder member of the Rotary Club of Rugby Dunsmore, and a champion of the campaign to End Polio Now.
Members of his family will meet with Rotarians to walk in his memory and raise funds for End Polio Now. All are welcome to join in.
Programme Lead Kate Lawrence said: “Rotary members along with our partners have contributed more than £1.5billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly three billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease.
“Rotary’s advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by governments to contribute more than £7.4billion to the effort.
“Today, polio remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But it’s crucial to continue working to keep other countries polio-free. If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year.”
Visit www.endpolionow.org for more information about the campaign to end polio, and www.rotaryrugbydunsmore.uk for more on the Rotary Rugby Dunsmore Club.
