Priory Rotary Marks World Polio Day with Charity Walk

Tuesday October 25th was World Polio Day, and several members of Priory Rotary, along with friends and partners, joined together in a charity walk as part of the International Rotary campaign aimed at eradicating polio worldwide.

Victims of polio frequently suffer paralysis and muscle wasting, requiring them to wear callipers to walk or even confining them to a wheelchair. To show solidarity with polio sufferers, Rotarians across Britain marked World Polio Day in many ways, often including walks, to raise money and awareness of this preventable disease.

The Priory Rotary End Polio Now Walk, well organised by Elizabeth Eagling, involved a walk around Roydon Common, followed by refreshments at the home of President Paul Batterham. 24 people took part, and when all the donations were collected the event raised £300. This total will be tripled by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, making a grand total of £900.

A global campaign of vaccinations spearheaded by Rotary has almost wiped out polio, with an estimated 16 million people walking today who would otherwise have been paralysed by this virus. The task now is to eradicate the last 0.1% of cases. So it is all the more important that Rotary continues to push hard to achieve the ultimate goal of eradicating polio for ever.

Picture shows the walkers about to set off, with Margaret Tasker holding Ollie, Priory’s well-travelled polio bear, in memory of Dr Peter Tasker who championed the End Polio Now campaign within Rotary for many years.

Contact - Phil Davies on 01553 631663