Covid 19
Our fundraising was severely dented by the cancellation by the pandemic of the Border Randonnee which would have been held in May 2020 . But the good news is that we are up and running (cycling) again on 14th May 2022, see more details at https://www.borderrandonnee.co.uk/
End Polio Now
The Foundation Committee has continued to direct much of its efforts towards End Polio Now. However, the last year has not been good for the global polio campaign. At the end of March mass vaccination campaigns against polio and measles were put on hold to prevent spreading coronavirus. As a result several millions of children below the age of 5 remain susceptible and have not had the chance to be vaccinated.
In 2019, polio numbers have increased, with176 cases of the naturally occurring type. Today, polio remains endemic only in Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. But it is crucial to continue working to keep other countries polio-free. If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year.
The worlds total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases is closing in on 5 million. But an accidental side effect of the pandemic—an indefinite pause in the worldwide campaign to eradicate polio—could dwarf its toll by allowing the almost-vanquished disease to get a fresh start. The longer the pause goes on, the more catch-up the campaign will have to do. It is hard to imagine that the pandemic could do yet more damage but the undermining of the 32-year-effort to chase polio from the world and end the paralysis of children could be among its worst effects yet.
Rotary Foundation is waiving the 30 percent foreign financing requirement for any new global grant that addresses COVID-19 and this is where we may need to investigate further to see what options are available to us in order to replace the loss of fundraising caused by the necessary cancellation of The Border Randonnee.
Members own charitable contributions goes direct to Foundation and our Lucky Balls lottery increases the overall contribution to Foundation but there are still 20 available numbers which would maximise the money available to the Club.