For over 30 years, Rotary worldwide and its members have been committed to fighting to eradicate polio across the world.

The amount of polio-endemic countries has dropped from 125 to just three, (Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan) with over 2.5 billion children receiving vaccinations thanks to the help of Rotary.

It was 6 years ago when Caterham Rotary Club first planted the Purple Crocus Maze in Queens Park Caterham in support of the eradication programme.

The Club have planted many purple crocuses in recent years and at the end of last year Rotarians planted 2000 corms in Caterham Valley which are now in full bloom.

The purple colour symbolises the purple dye that is painted on the little fingers of small children to show they have been immunised.

Last Wednesday a special celebration was held in Queens Park to witness the unveiling of an enhancement to the Maze – a whole range of stepping stones sponsored by local school children and organisations who also attended the event which included a “Purple for Polio” cream team.

Colin Vane, Caterham Rotary President, thanked over 80 guests for coming along and went on to say “this is one of many simultaneous Rotary celebrations being held currently at 4.00pm across Great Britain & Ireland supporting both Polio eradication and International Women’s Day. The aim is to eradicate Polio completely by 2020.

Guest of honour Pat Cannon Chairman of Tandridge Council commented, “ The Council is delighted to support this event and further the ambition to eradicate polio for good. The stepping stone we have sponsored and the space we have allocated within the park for the maze will help remind Caterham residents and people from all over the district how close we are to preventing this cruel disease from affecting the lives of children around the world.”

 

Top Photo features Caterham Rotary President, Colin Vane, with Chairman of Tandridge District Council, Pat Cannon, walking round the Crocus Maze on the new stepping stones.  The stones have the names of all the schools and organisations including Tandridge District Council who sponsored each stone.