SHOPPERS in Westbury helped the Rotary Club of Westbury in its “Mile of Coins” challenge in the town centre on Saturday 26th February.
Their line of coins made up just over £188 to help Rotary International’s campaign to eradicate polio.
John Ridgers of Westbury Rotary Club, said, “We would like to thank Westbury shoppers for stretching the line of coins to just over £188.
“Quite a good effort, we think, given that Westbury High Street is not the busiest of places on a Saturday morning. Fortunately the weather was kind up until the end, then, as the Rotarians started to pick up the monies and clear away the posters/ brochures etc., the heavens opened!
“We would also like to gratefully acknowledge the support given by Kevin’s Menswear, Craft Carpets, Harper’s Fabrics and HW Financial Services in the staging of this event.”
Just one pound provides vaccinations for five children, each of whom get a dab of purple colour on their little finger (pinkie) showing that they have been vaccinated and preventing them from being double dosed.
As part of this campaign, back in the autumn, children from Westbury Infants and Bitham Brook primary schools planted up crocus bulbs in the grassed area next to the library. Purple in colour, the bulbs symbolise the ‘purple pinkie’ and it is hoped they will be in bloom on the day.
A donation from the proceeds of Westbury’s Mile of Coins event was also made to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance service.
If you are interested in finding out more about Rotary and the Westbury club, you can contact Susan Hill-Bird on 01225 751525 or email sh-b@sky.com. Alternatively, for the club’s website, simply Google Westbury Rotary Club.
Polio was endemic in the UK during the 1940s, and infants were the most at risk from this killer disease.
Polio attacked the nervous system and, in the worse cases, caused muscle paralysis, an inability to control breathing and swallowing and even death. Once contracted, there was no cure and victims required constant medical support. For some of those with breathing difficulties, the ‘Iron Lung’ was the answer and many were unable to walk without the support of leg callipers.
Fortunately, a vaccine was developed and immunisation programmes for children were introduced and polio has long since been eradicated in the UK and many other parts of the world. But by 1985, there were still 125 countries in which the disease remained endemic. At this point, Rotary International stepped in to make its number one priority the worldwide eradication of the disease and has since contributed over $1billion to the cause.
By 2009, the number of affected countries was just four – Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Nigeria. Rotary says, “A remarkable success story but still some way to go to rid the world of this horrid disease.
“To finally achieve the goal, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation made a donation of $355million and challenged Rotary International to raise a further $200million by 2012. Rotary International is confident that, with the help of the public, it can meet the challenge.”
Pictured: rotarians lay the coins in the high street
