This year for World Polio Day members of our Rotary District (1120, South East) will be climbing the O2 Dome! We’re asking for you to give them some support.
World Polio Day is marked around the world in all sorts of ways – for instance people will be lighting iconic buildings in purple and holding various fundraisers and events to raise awareness of Rotary’s work to support the global eradication of polio.
Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious disease that most commonly affects children under the age of 5. Older readers may have been affected by polio themselves or may recall hearing about “iron lung” machines that were used to help those with respiratory paralysis to breathe.
Although there is no cure for polio, there is a safe and effective vaccine – one which Rotary and Rotary partners use to immunize over 2.5 billion children worldwide. Thanks to these efforts the world has made great progress towards eradicating the disease, which now remains endemic in only two countries.
The brave Rotarians taking on the O2 challenge will be climbing over the Dome in support of Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign. The climb has been described by our District Governor (who will be one of the climbers) as “rather adventurous” – we commend those brave folk who have volunteered to take part! They include: Judith Diment, Chair of Rotary International’s Polio Eradication Advocacy Task Force; District Governor, Penny Spiller; District Governor Elect, Graham Forster; and District Governor Nominee, Mark Underwood – proof, as Brian says, that “leadership really does mean going the extra mile (or vertical metre!)” In all there will be 30 or so Rotarians from both our district & London districts taking part in the climb; they will be seen off by Eve Conway, Immediate Past Rotary International Director.
Our District has decided on this unusual way to raise funds and we would be really pleased if you would consider a donation. Every pound raised gets a generous 2:1 uplift from the Gates Foundation and will help in the efforts to eradicate polio globally.
To read more about the fundraising efforts or to make a donation please click here.
Picture: Library picture of London’s O2 Dome (formerly the Millennium Dome). Picture credit: Kev from Pixabay.
