Campaign to Eradicate Polio

In 1985 Rotary launched the International Campaign to eradicate Polio.

At that time there were 350,000 cases a year and the disease was endemic in 125 countries. As a result of the campaign, in 2025 there were just 38 cases, and the disease is endemic in just two countries. A reduction of 99.9%. This is a remarkable achievement. Island Rotary Club 'Rotary on the Wight' based across Newport, Ryde and West Wight, are supporting the Rotary International Campaign to Eradicate Polio. With the generous support of 'Wight Cycle Hire' with the loan of two e-bikes, Rotarians Paul Wheeler and Ian Pratt are cycling from Yarmouth Harbour to Ryde Esplanade to raise awareness of the Rotary campaign this event is taking place this Saturday October 31st. We are selling purple crocus corms at £2 for a bag of 10 corms at PC's Café Watergate Road Newport. Also, BUT ONLY ON Saturday 31st October - Yarmouth Harbour between 9.30am and 10.30am; Cowes Esplanade between 11.15am and 12.30pm; St James Square Newport between 1.00pm and 2.00pm and in Ryde outside the Ryde Superbowl from 3.00pm to 4.00pm. We have a 'Go Fund me' page: https://gofund.me/5bd6c9b4b Please donate £5 or just what you can. For every pound donated to the Rotary Campaign the Bill Gates Foundation donates Two Pounds!

We hope to raise over £1,500 across our events to support this campaign