Over £900 Raised for End Polio Now

The Rotary Club of Reading Matins successfully raised more than £900 during their annual curry lunch in support of the ‘End Polio Now’ campaign. The event, held on Sunday, 19th January, took place at the award-winning Burghfield Spices located at The Hatch Gate Inn, Burghfield, with special thanks to landlord Mashiur Rahman ("Buddy") for his continued support.

More than 45 attendees, aged 4 to 89, gathered to enjoy a Sunday buffet lunch and participate in fundraising activities, including a raffle and a lively game of Heads and Tails, where the last person standing won a bottle of bubbly.

This marks the third consecutive year the Rotary’s curry lunch has been hosted at Burghfield Spices, a much-anticipated event in the club’s annual fundraising calendar. The event was originally founded by the late John Stevens, who passed away in 2022 after a battle with cancer. In his memory, the club continues to uphold this tradition alongside his family, ensuring the event’s success each year.

Rotary International’s Fight Against Polio
For over 45 years, Rotary International has been at the forefront of the global effort to eradicate polio, reducing cases by 99.9% since their first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979. Through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Rotary members have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours, protecting nearly 3 billion children across 122 countries from this crippling disease. Rotary’s advocacy has also led governments to invest $10 billion towards this cause.

Rotary’s efforts are further supported by the Gates Foundation, who typically match every dollar raised by Rotary for polio eradication at a 2:1 ratio. 

Polio remains endemic in only Afghanistan and Pakistan, but Rotary’s work continues to prevent resurgence in other nations. If eradication efforts were to stop today, polio could once again paralyze 200,000 children each year within a decade.

Reading Matins President Val Robinson shared, “The End Polio Now initiative is deeply important to our club, not only because it is a global Rotary cause, but also because some of our members and their families have been personally affected by this devastating disease. Events like our annual curry lunch show how small gatherings can have a big impact on our fundraising goals. We’re grateful to Buddy and his team for their hospitality and look forward to next year’s lunch, which always helps lift spirits after the post-Christmas blues.”

In November 2023, Burghfield Spices at The Hatch Gate Inn was voted "Berkshire's Very Best" Indian restaurant by Berkshire Live. Known for its inviting atmosphere and delicious cuisine, the restaurant is a local favourite.

Led by Buddy and his team, Burghfield Spices stands out for its community involvement, including support for local charities and providing free meals to NHS staff during the pandemic. The restaurant also offers free tea and coffee on Armistice Day and a warm space for those in need on Christmas Day. Burghfield Spices continues to be a cherished part of the local community.