ROTARY ENDING POLIO – THANK YOU CIRENCESTER!
The President of Cirencester Rotary Club Mark Wilton now viewing the blooming Purple Polio Crocuses he donated to the Community Gardens project in Kemble, following collection of Purple Polio bulbs from district organiser Keith Dunmur last year.
.jpg)
ROTARY ENDING POLIO – THANK YOU CIRENCESTER!
The President of Cirencester Rotary Club Mark Wilton issued a statement of thanks to the people of Cirencester on Saturday 24th October, World Polio Day, for their support of the Rotary International campaign to End Polio Now. This has resulted in the recent declaration by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the African Region has not had a case of polio for more than 2 years and so has been certified as being Polio Free!
Rotary began a global campaign in 1988 to rid the world of the devastating effects of polio. It initially linked up with the WHO and UNICEF to get the project launched, becoming the WHO’s ninth biggest donor in 2018-19, with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation who have multiple matched every pound (or dollar) Rotary have raised each year. The Rotary Club of Cirencester have consistently supported the campaign and thanks to local fundraising have donated more than £10,000 to the project.
President Mark Wilton said: “Every year we have a day of packing customers shopping at Waitrose or Tesco, which helps the stores on peak Christmas and Easter days to keep the traffic flowing through the checkouts. We are very thankful to the stores for allowing us to help out and to collect donations, half of which go to our own Local projects and half go to the End Polio Now project.”
Cirencester Rotary club also buy a batch of purple crocus every year from the Rotary Purple for Polio team and plant them in parks and schools around the Town and in surrounding villages. There are two big plantings in St Michael’s park and the Abbey Grounds which are a lovely spring-time reminder of the support the town’s people have made to the Rotary End Polio Now project. The purple is significant as it’s the colour of dye children’s figures are dipped into, to signify they have received their inoculation.
Mark added: “We are very appreciative of the support the people of Cirencester and our members have given to this project. One of our members, Alan Rice-Smith, went a step further a couple of years ago and gave up some of his annual leave to go to India to help as a volunteer in the inoculation programme and which has resulted in the country now being free of Polio. It’s gratifying to know that Africa is now also Polo free and that there are only 2 countries left in the world with an ongoing polio problem, Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
The End Polio Now project continues to help the development of local infra-structure for on-going inoculation in developing countries to maintain the level of success achieved so far and work continues to eradicate it in the last 2 countries. To this end, Cirencester Rotary club have bought more bulbs this autumn. The main planting will be in the Kemble Community Garden, which will result in a lovely purple display in 2021.
Mark concluded: “A big ‘Thank You’ to the people of Cirencester for supporting Rotary to help the world be a better place because of the End Polio Now campaign.”
back to page above this...
Planting crocuses to support an end to Polio
back Planting Crocuses for End Polio Now
'What We Do' Main Pages:
Members of Cirencester Rotary Club welcomed Gordon Burley from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) to their meeting recently to give an informative presentation on how to drive more safely.
moreSkittles, Quizes, Cricket etc
more
The inaugural charity golf day, organised by Cirencester Rotarian Andy Kerr and held at the prestigious Cirencester Golf Club this month was a huge success and raised £4,300 for Dementia UK and other local Rotary charities.
more
Rotary Community Service Awards made to deserving local citizens
more
Cirencester Rotary Club was very pleased to sponsor this year's Public Speaking Competition at Kingshill School
moreJanuary 2019 onwards - a record of our speakers
more
Our Community, Environment & Ecology Services team have been busy over the past 3 years planting trees locally & contributing to improving Cirencester Parish Church Memorial Garden & supports the new 'Clean & Green Initiative'.
more
Details of the Membership Committee
more
Cirencester Rotary Club recently reinforced its on-going support for local charity "Hope for Tomorrow" by attending the official launch of their newest mobile chemotherapy unit - the replacement for "Helen", the unit that directly serves Glouceste
moreCharities we support and have supported in the past
more
Photo update of start, progress and Children looking happy. Good to see new land cruiser has finally arrived in Madina & looking forward to putting it to good use. Plus update reports.
more
Cirencester Rotary Club’s annual car treasure hunt attracted a healthy contingent of competitive souls who set out from the Royal Agricultural University aiming to reach the correct destination for their evening meal by decoding the clues provided.
more"Paul Harris Fellow presentations" are made to Rotarians who have made a significant contribution to the Club's activities.
more
Following years of planning, two postponements due to Covid and the sudden passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the difficult decision was made to go ahead with the event as planned and hold a two minute silence in her honour at 1pm.
more.jpg)
Santa's Sleigh, Waitrose Bag Packing, Carol Concert, Christmas Dinner
more
Rotary Club of Wakefield links with Cirencester Rotary to source Robotic Cats to support and comfort people who have Dementia
more
A consultant cardiologist, Dr Scott posed the question "who wants to live forever?" and set about explaining to an attentive audience how best to reduce their risk of suffering a heart attack.
moreListen to a recent interview with Andy Kerr discussing our Charity walk Land's End to John o'Groats and back (equivalent) to fund raise for our local charities. Also a listing of past Rotary interviews.
more
Cirencester Rotary Club will be staging their third annual Junior Biathlon on 30 September and are inviting children of all ages and abilities to get their applications in now.
more
