Purple4Polio

Llantwit Major School and the Rotary Club of Llantwit Major are helping to rid the world of polio by supporting the nationwide initiative, Purple4Polio. The campaign, which was launched by Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, to encourage everyone to join together in the final push to eradicate polio worldwide. There have been promising steps, with just 37 cases of polio recorded in the last year. To make a polio free world a reality, Rotary, who started the campaign to eradicate polio more than 30 years ago and has spearheaded this major health initiative ever since, is determined to raise awareness and funds to finish off the job.

As part of the campaign, Llantwit Major Rotary club has teamed up with Llantwit Major School and its Interact club to brighten up a grassed area in the school grounds by planting 5,000 purple crocus corms on Tuesday 21st November. Sandra Botham, the school business manager said "the Interactors worked extremely hard and, despite being rather muddy, persevered and finished the job!  Thank you and well done to you all."   

The colour purple was chosen as it represents the colour of the dye which is placed on the little finger of a child on mass immunisation days when literally millions of children in entire countries are protected against the disease. across the world. The number of polio-endemic countries has dropped from 125 to just 3, with over 2.5 billion children receiving vaccinations thanks to the help of Rotary. With eradication now closer than ever, Rotary’s latest campaign is designed to unite communities to engage in activities as part of what the world is hoping will be the final efforts to eradicate polio forever.

In the spring the crocuses came through, providing another reminder of the push towards "makingpolio history".