What is polio?
Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious disease that affects children usually under the age of 5 years old. In 1953 Dr. Jonas Salk discovered the vaccine to combat polio and it was used constantly to vaccinate children. Dr. Albert Sabin came along some years later to make an oral vaccine. In 1962, they started giving it to school children in a sugar cube. I am sure many of us remember queueing up and receiving a sugar cube in school.
However over these years, to get every child around the world vaccinated is an impossible task. And so the struggle continues.
In 1985 Rotary launched Polio Plus and inspired Global Health Leaders. Rotary brought together leaders who stepped up to take on this challenge. The eradication of polio is one of Rotary’s longest standing and most significant efforts. Rotary has helped to immunise more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries. Rotary has reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent worldwide and it won’t stop until it ends the disease for good. Every dollar that Rotary commits to end polio will be tripled thanks to a matching agreement with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Rotary, every year, continues to raise awareness of the fight against polio with a planting of carpets of purple crocuses around the UK called the Purple Crocus Corm Planting, shortened to Purple 4 Polio.
Pembrey and Burry Port wanted to be a part of this campaign. To link beauty and fighting polio seemed a wonderful connection to make our world polio free. Our club decided to be a part of this.
So on a cold Wednesday morning on December 21st, a small group of us, led by a member, Mark Stephens, took 4000 crocus bulbs to plant. The question had been as to where we could plant these bulbs. Mark sought places all over the locality but luckily our lovely Ashburnham Hotel, where we hold our dinners and meetings every Tuesday evening, came up trumps. We were given permission to tear up some of the hotel’s turf, temporarily, and plant these 4000 bulbs. We were digging for victory in our battle to stop polio. It was such a good cause.
We, however, did have a great deal of fun doing this. Our methods of planting them were hilarious with much discussion. Mark had brought along a turf cutter so that we could lift the turf, plant the bulbs and then relay the turf. Remember, it was 4000 bulbs. A lot of bulbs to be planted in a morning! We did it! Of course what we are looking forward to is Spring. This will be when, obviously, the bulbs will be in flower.
We hope to put up a little sign to say that our Rotary did this, as the carpet of crocuses will show support for our fight against polio. It will remind people of how we are caring about protecting children against this awful disease which has still not completely disappeared.
We would, as a Rotary, like to dedicate this carpet of crocuses to a friend who has very recently passed away. His name is Les Williams. He was a very important part of our Rotary and it was his inspiration for the 4000 crocuses. A wonderful man who meant a great deal to all of us!
Pembrey and Burry Port Foodbank has thanked us on their Facebook page for our support. We are very happy for the recognition as our Treasurer, Huw Morse, is responsible for the shopping and delivery. We regularly donate to the Foodbank as we care about our local people as well as global issues like polio.
We, in our local Rotary, enjoy our life together. We have a laugh, a lovely meal served by the Ashburnham Hotel, Business meetings and guest speakers. Wonderful!
We are a very friendly Rotary and have many good times together as well as doing a great deal for various charities. Come and give us a try and then maybe you would like to join us. Our email address is pembreyrotary-club@mail.com.
