World Polio Day

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.

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.  

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.