Oswestry Cambrian Rotary presented their Adcote Interact club (Rotary club for 12 to 18year olds) at Adcote School, Nesscliffe with a new pop-up display banner, T-shirts to wear at fundraising events and 150 purple crocus bulbs to raise awareness of the “Purple 4 Polio” campaign. The items were presented by Club President Anna Pugh, Executive Secretary Cath Baldry and Ian Slipper.
Adcote students are planning to plant the bulbs in the Adcote gardens as a symbol of the continued world fight to eradicate polio from the world. The childhood disease can kill or severely disable children. There is no cure which is why a worldwide immunisation programme is essential to prevent children from contracting the disease.
In 1988 Rotary International joined forces with the Bill and Belinda Gates Foundation to launch the Global Polio Eradication Initiative which supports a worldwide immunisation programme. For every £1 raised by Rotary International the Bill and Belinda Gates Foundation donates two dollars. Since then, 3 billion children have been immunised and polio has decreased by 99%. Today wild polio is only found in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and with the return of The Taliban to Afghanistan, it is feared that cases within the country could rise rapidly.
Every child, who is immunised, receives an indelible purple mark on their finger – hence the significance of the choice of purple crocus bulbs. World Polio Day is on 24th October. Adcote Interactors are looking to hold an assembly, after half term, to raise awareness of the polio campaign. They also hope to organise activities for World Interact Week, November 1st – 7th.
The Oswestry Cambrian Rotary is ready to welcome all genders and couples of 18+ from the local community who want to be “people of action”. They normally meet face-to-face at The Wynnstay Hotel, Church Street, Oswestry on Thursday evenings at 7.45pm and meet in the bar. Alternatively, you can join our meeting from anywhere via our Zoom account connection.
For more information on what their new style of Rotary has to offer contact Mike Lade on 01691 570917, info@oswestrycambrianrc.co.uk or see www.oswestrycambrianrc.co.uk.
Pictured: Cath Baldry, Anne Pugh and Ian Slipper and the Interact team at Adcote School.
