Following on from the wonderful purple lighting of Government House last Friday by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor and Lady Corder, Rotary in Guernsey would like your help to change the blanket of white snow we are currently seeing to purple and to raise money for the Rotary campaign to free the world of polio.
Tomorrow is our annual Purple Pinkie Day – when we ask all businesses, schools, colleges and community groups to have some purple fun – whilst raising lots of 20 pences to help Rotary protect children from the life threatening and disabling poliovirus. Please join in tomorrow, or at a later date if the weather is still making getting around difficult. It really does cost just 20 pence for the 2 life saving drops of polio vaccine to prevent this horrible disease which has absolutely no cure but is so easily prevented.
Picture: Purple lighting of Government House supporting Purple4Polio
Why not be inspired to go and see some of the beautiful 400,000 purple crocus corms starting to bloom that have been planted across the Bailiwick over the last few years. Rotary is delighted to have the support of Appleby (Guernsey) LLP who have sponsored the corms and Floral Guernsey who work so closely with us on this initiative to bring us all such a beautiful sight in the Spring. The corms have been planted by Rotary members, Floral Guernsey groups, and many volunteers.
Hopefully the snow won’t have caused them too much damage as they were already showing their heads and will re-awaken to transform lots of places across the Bailiwick in to a sea of vibrant purple.
Simon Milsted of Rotary Club of Guernsey said: “We are very grateful to everyone who braved the very chilly weather last year to plant the crocuses. Thanks must go to Appleby who have very kindly sponsored the corms and to the Floral Guernsey groups in all the Islands and Parishes who have helped with planting them.”
Sarah Cash of Rotary Guernesiais says “Purple is a symbolic colour as it is the dye used to mark a child’s little finger when they have received their life saving polio drops. Rotary has helped immunise millions of children overseas against polio since 1985 and now there are just three endemic countries instead of 125. Thanks to Rotary, and the support of our partners WHO, CDC, Unicef and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, those children are creating lives full of possibilities instead of living lives filled with pain caused by deformed limbs and other polio symptoms.”
Alison MacKrill from Appleby said “A member of my own family has lived with the terrible effects of polio and I am delighted that we can help Rotary in this way. The impact the public can make cannot be underestimated. When you donate to the Rotary polio campaign you can trust that it will be saving lives. The money helps with so many critical aspects necessary to ensure those life-saving vaccines reach children everywhere and includes the vaccines themselves, studying the movement of the disease and finding ways to combat it. We value our support of the Rotary Polio campaign very highly.”
Mobile migrant populations and displacement caused by wars and conflict particularly can allow polio to move from country to country. Mass immunisation drives are the most effective way to tackle this threat which is why they continue in around 60 countries classed as polio-free as well as the 3 countries where polio is still endemic. Rotary members from the UK and Guernsey regularly travel to India to support fellow members and health workers with administering the vaccine in mass immunisation days, often reaching remote villages and communities, to make sure every child is protected.
Any businesses, groups or schools are invited to contact Jannine Birtwistle at the Rotary Club of Guernsey who would be delighted to come in and tell you more about the Rotary Polio story.