IN April this year, young pupils from two primary schools in Oswestry took part in the Rotary Club of Oswestry’s Sponsored Walk in Cae Glas Park to raise funds to continue the worldwide immunisation campaign to end polio, the virus born disease that causes temporary or permanent paralysis or even death.
In the UK, the number of cases of polio fell dramatically when routine vaccination was introduced in the 1960s. A global campaign to eradicate polio got underway in the 1980s – when the Rotary organisation became involved in 1985 there were over 39,000 cases annually worldwide. A targeted immunisation campaign around the world driven by the World Health Organisation, Rotary and other partners has seen this number drop to an incredible total of only 5 cases so far in 2017 – FIVE! However, the campaign must continue until the virus is eradicated.
So, in April this year, pupils from Oswestry School Bellan House School Reception, Year1 and Year 2 classes together with virtually the whole of Our Lady and St Oswald’s Primary School took part in the sponsored walk to raise funds to continue the campaign. In the last month, Oswestry Rotary President Ian Haigh and event organiser David Gordon visited assemblies at both schools to thank the pupils for taking part and raising the fantastic sum of £638.50 in total (before Gift Aid) with more still coming in!
Presenting a certificate to each school, David Gordon told the youngsters “Your fantastic efforts will be matched twice over by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation so that, for every £100 you have raised, the Foundation adds £200 more which will be increased even further when we add in the Gift Aid claimed.” President Ian Haigh also thanked the pupils and added “At only 0.10p per dose the £300 roughly raised by each school will be trebled to £900 which will allow 9,000 vaccinations to be given – a good morning’s work!”
Pictured: Presentation at Our Lady and St Oswald’s (L-R) In front of David Gordon and President Ian Haigh are Samantha, Ben and Sofia
Ian Haigh (Rotary President), David Gordon, (F) Isabelle Jermy, William Taylor, Cecilia Freeman.JPG Presentation at Bellan House (L-R) In front of David Gordon and President Ian Haigh, Isabelle Jermy, William Taylor and Cecilia Freeman
