return to the Polio homepage
return to the Foundation homepage
Rotarians across Britain and Ireland have secured the support of a few celebrity Purple4Polio Ambassadors supporting Rotary’s campaign to rid the world of polio.
Paralympian and broadcaster Ade, has pledged to support Rotary “all the way” as we continue our efforts to rid the world of this life threatening and crippling disease. Ade contracted polio in his birth country of Nigeria but moved to the UK with his parents a few years later. He has spoken at many Rotary events and conferences and will be at the next Rotary Showcase event in Nottingham in May 2019.
The Channel Four documentary, The Journey of My Lifetime, first shown in August 2013, saw Ade returning to Nigeria to meet people dealing with polio.
Read more on the Rotary in Britain and Ireland webpages.
The producer of the film Breathe, about his father’s life after contracting polio in Kenya in the 1950s, has said “I am pleased to be able to help publicise the great work done by Rotary and the Purple4Polio campaign. The world must remain vigilant in ensuring that this horrifying disease is finally and totally eradicated.”
Read the interview with Jonathan on the Rotary in Britain and Ireland webpages.
In 2016 Alan added his support to Rotary’s work
"I am delighted to be able to support the Purple4Polio campaign developed by Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland. The campaign which involves members of Rotary Clubs across the UK planting in excess of six million crocus corms during October that will bloom in late February and early March is very innovative and clearly shows that you, members of the Rotary organisation, bring colour into people's lives through all your activities. I wish you all the very best and look forward to seeing a blaze of purple across the country in early spring"
Chris also gave his support to our work in 2016.
Arguably one of Britain's most successful game show hosts and light entertainment presenters, Chris Tarrant is very excited to be supporting Purple4Polio. When accepting the invitation to become an Ambassador, Chris said
"I am delighted to support Rotary International across Great Britain and Ireland in their 100th year of fundraising through the Rotary Foundation. This very special year, I am aware, involves the planting of some 6 million purple crocus corms which are the symbol of the Purple4Polio campaign.
more deadline for nominations in 20th August 2021
more Continuing the success of our crocus planting over the last few years, find out how your Rotary Club or RHS Group can help paint District 1090 in the Thames Valley even more Purple4Polio in the Spring of 2022.
more District resources, links to RIBI and RI pages and to the World Polio Eradication Initiative pages
more report of a presentation in Oxford on 14th October 2019 by Dr Abdi Mahamud, the Polio Eradication Initiative National Team Leader for the World Health Organisation in Pakistan
more from 23rd to 30th April 2020 the World Health Organisation, Rotary and their partners promote the importance of vaccinations
more All the hard work in October and November was worth it - the Thames Valley turns purple
more the history of polio, the vaccine and the eradication programme
more Rotary clubs and their Purple4Polio partners all over the District are well under-way with their crocus planting to raise awareness for End Polio Now.
more response to reports of a polio vaccine shortage
back Rotary's remarkable commitment. Working with an incredible network of people, we really are so close to eradicating polio.