If you are 60+ the chances are you will be aware of how the paralyses caused by polio can range from needing artificial respirators through to irreversible damage with partial or total loss of the use of limbs.
Well, because of the efforts of Rotary and its partners, its estimated almost 19 million people are walking today who would have otherwise been paralyzed.
The crocus planting Banbury Rotary Club has carried out to brighten up various parts of the town also acts to highlight the “purple for polio” campaign.
Members of Banbury Rotary Club make financial contributions to Rotary Foundation Fund for whom ridding the world of polio is a key project consuming $152 of its total $362 million budget for 2019/20
The Banbury Club also organises fund raising activities such as the Crocus concerts and Children Singing for Children concerts where a significant chunk of the monies raised go to polio eradication.
In a typical year the club contributes around £3000+ to the end polio campaign and this is then double matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to £9000 That’s enough to purchase vaccine for 10,000 children!
The timeline below shows you just how far Rotary has got in eliminating this disease. Despite the self-evident challenges in finally eradicating it in the remaining affected countries (Afganistan and Pakistan) the project goes on in the hope that – like smallpox – this disease will finally be wiped from the face of the planet.
Come and join us make the world a better place and enjoy friendship and fun in the process!