Purple4Polio

Tower Bridge was raised and glowed purple on the backdrop of the River Thames as the campaign was launched aboard the Dixie Queen, where those in attendance heard a music concert by the singer-songwriter Donovan, who is a polio survivor. TV Presenter Konnie Huq was also present; she is working as part of the campaign after seeing first-hand (in India) how devastating the effect of polio can be. One part of the campaign involves a collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)'s Bloom Groups to transform public spaces and brighten up local communities by planting 5 million purple crocus corms across Britain and Ireland. This community ethos is a value shared by both Rotary and the RHS.

In order to facilitate the Purple4Polio actions of Rotary clubs, RHS community-based Bloom Groups, and other participating organisations and members of the public to use, Rotary produced online, printable materials such as fact sheets, leaflets, a planting guide, and buttons featuring awareness- and fund-raising activities. Examples of such activities include: planning purple-themed events for Rotary's World's Greatest Meal to Help End Polio"), organising purple-themed celebrations for World Polio Day (October 24th), arranging purple lighting of key buildings, holding a swimarathon that features the colour purple, participating in the Purple4Polio Facebook "name the polio teddy bear" competition, and the like.

Immunisation and Vaccines

The number of polio-endemic countries has dropped from 125 to just 2, with over 2.5 billion children receiving vaccinations since 1985 due in part to the help of Rotary. Purple4Polio ties in with the 100 year anniversary of The Rotary Foundation, Rotary's charity, which has been working to help make polio eradication a reality.