World Polio Day

Ideas and resources to raise awareness of, and to raise funds for polio eradication

24 October is World Polio Day

World Polio Day is the day Rotarians and Rotary partners recognise the progress towards the eradication of this terrible disease and use it as an opportunity to raise our profile and encourage people to get involved.

Rotary has been there from the beginning and so far, Rotarians with the support of donations and with its partners, immunised over 400 million children against polio each year.

Remember polio is only a plane ride away.

NEW Download these two useful documents for lots of ideas :
Newsletter August and Newsletter September

Ideas to raising the profile of Polio

Support for the End Polio Now campaign is as great now as ever. Here are some examples of things that you can do to promote the Polio Eradication Programme. Some of them use the colour purple – this is because children have the tip of their little finger dyed purple so that vaccinators know who has received their vaccine.

Walk a Mile to End Polio : You can walk alone or in groups, just get your trainers or walking boots on, head outside and walk a mile. This is great way to engage with a cross-section of the community to raise awareness of our efforts to eradicate polio and for some public visibility. Ask your friends and family to support you through sponsorship.

Planting purple crocus corms : corms can be ordered through the District Foundation Lead at certain times of the year.

Planting purple tulips : A project from Church & Oswaldtwistle Rotary. The Tulips, once boxed and labelled, can also be sold as gift items to raise funds for Polio Eradication. Club can buy bulbs from wholesalers or contact Ian McTurk via the Corporate Membership Page.

Purple plants : can be planted at any time of the year but add a small sign explaining the relevance of a purple Polio garden.

Arrange to light up a building : Work with your local authority to highlight historic buildings.

Flash Mob : Several years ago some local Rotary clubs supported groups of young people to assemble unnannounced in a public place to perform dances, that raised awareness of the End Polio Now campaign.

More ideas and free resources are available from

RotaryGBI Purple4polio project

Donations Page for RotaryGBI and polio

End Polio Now Resources Centre

End Polio Now Guernsey Shop

Rotary members can access additional ideas and resources by logging into the RotaryGBI website with their My Rotary account.

Please do your bit to help Rotary keep its promise to the children of the world
and eradicate polio for ever.

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Polio Eradication

back An update about polio around the world

'What We Do' Main Pages:

Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Fundraising Project

‘Safe Futures: Supporting Women and Girls in West Cumbria’ Every woman and girl deserves to live free from fear, violence and abuse. The funds will aid help for those at risk.

Picture of the finished Harris Park gates....also a picture of the gates sandblasted back to bare metal before painting.

President Andy Carter and fellow club members in 2024 completed repainting of the ornate gateway into the town's Harris Park.

Rotary plant and care for this area in our town to offer a warm welcome to all who come here.

Some of the Calendar design and creation team.

It's back! The Club has once again produced the glossy calendar with fresh pictures of our gem Georgian town for each month of the year.

Our annual Golf Tournament at Cockermouth Golf Club

Raised Herb/Vegetable beds ready for cutting.

We have planted various Herb Beds around the town.

A great competition and some worthy winners

Our annual inter-school football competition...Sun 18 May 2025, 1:00pm - 3:30pm at TarnClose

Tools for Self-Reliance Partnership

Working together to bring help

The Rotary Host of Daffodils ...plans being made for 2025

2022 the Rotary Host of Daffodils

The key organisers behind the conference: Rotarian Val Ayre, President Joe Fagan, Sarah Place from Victim Support and Rotarian Andy Carter.

The Club organised the first of what are hoped to be annual conferences on important topics in the community.

Fine weather again for the tournament at Tarn Close.

Charitable Trust Grant Application Form

We normally meet on the first Monday of the month to consider any grant applications. Please ensure you read page 3 to check if you may be eligible for a grant.

Sunny smiles from the gandstand for the 80th celebration in 2019

Exactly 80 years ago the Rotary Club of Cockermouth started on its journey to give Service above Self .

Handover with a Difference

President Andy Carter presents the initial donation to Dr Jonathan Nicoll and Sister Dawn Sanderson.

The Club made its initial donation of £3,000 towards furnishings and essentials for the Henderson Suite at West Cumberland Hospital. President Andy Carter here presents the initial donation to Dr Jonathan Nicoll and Sister Dawn Sanderson.

The competitors in the 2017 Rotary Young Musicians contest...Pic Trevor Earthy

High standard of entries this year for the Young Musician contest...Pic Trevor Earthy

Showground in part of the successful Rotary Touch a Truck family shows...

Our family gala show returns in 2026 . Find out more at Touch a Truck Show

Good weather and fun on the faiway for the Club's golfers...

To help boost the Georgian town of Cockermouth the Rotary Club has once again produced a glossy calendar for the town for 2022

Back row:- Larry Branyan, District Governor; Joe Fagan, President Elect; Alan Tyson, Cockermouth Mayor. Front row:- Brian Mitchelhill, President; Paul Hancock, Cheshire Chief Fire Officer; Philip Straughton, President Nominee

Over 100 attendees helped the Club celebrate its 78th Charter in 2017

President Andy meets Holly the bear's new owners.

Holly the bear helped raise around £200 for the Henderson Suite at West Cumberland Hospital.

Some of the team making it all happen for the Christmas party

Over 60 senior citizens enjoyed the January 2017 event. In the spirit of partnership working the Christmas Party for senior citizens in Cockermouth was this year invaded by the town's University of the Third Age Latin Dancing troupe!

Chef of the Year winner Matthew Morris and Club President

Tasty meals created by pupils of Cockermouth School for this year's Rotary Young Chef contest.

Crocus planting around Cockermouth to mark Rotary work in helping eradicate polio across the world.

Rotary Club members prepare to guide traffic for a successful Carnival 2017

Twenty plus Club members ensured the carnival was a success by directing traffic and stewarding the event.

Cockermouth Rotary Club fielded a team for the 2017 Dragon Boat Race on Derwentwater, Keswick. And they plan to race again in 2018..

Occasionally coming with a new joke book......Billy Bowman esquire

A slap up Christmas meal followed by entertainment by Billy Bowman was enjoyed by 65 senior citizens.

Application Form for Funding

We consider applications from individuals or groups, particularly in the Cockermouth area, subject to certain criteria. Contact our Secretary:-secretary@cockermouth.rotary1190.org for an application form to complete and return by email.

President Brian Mitchelhill&Rotarian Bob Harwood at the presentation of the ruckdacks to Nick Landells from the Cumbria Alliance.

Presentation of Rucksacks to the Cumbria Alliance who organise D of E expeditions.

Pauline and Douggie Hardie and Club President Brian Mitchelhill. Picture by Trevor Earthy

The work of Cumbrian charity Dewode in Uganda was featured at an April 2018 meeting.

Thanks to organising by Alastair Sharp and the team a DEWODE charity film night was held on the 8th June 2018

Outgoing President Jimmy Wood gets a rousing vote of Thanks as he hands over to the Club's new President Andy Carter.

President Joe Fagan and some of the senior citizens enjoying the annual Christmas event.

In 2019 again some 70 enjoyed a very successful Senior Citizens Party with Rotarians providing a Christmas feast for many who might otherwise have missed out on festive fare.

Some of the children who enjoyed Kids Out 2014

The 2014 Kids Out saw 31 children from our area enjoy a day out...

Teams taking part in the busy 2014 Primary School Technology Tournament

The Club organised highly successful Young Technology Tournaments this year 2014.

Left to right: President Nominee Dave Siddall, Chairman of James Walkers Mr Peter Needham, President Joe Fagan, District 1190 Govenor Mary Bradley, the Mayor of Cockermouth David Malloy and President Elect Phillip Straughton. (Picture :Trevor Earthy)

President Joe Fagan welcomed 86 guests to a successful Charter Celebration in 2018

President Phillip and Rotarian Val among those helping ensure Taste was a big success..

Over 25,000 enjoy Taste Cumbria weekends and Club members were out in force in 2019 selling the Rotary calendar for cockermouth and helping with the park and ride service