Purple Patch for the North East
Landmarks across the North East – including St Mary’s Lighthouse - will be lit up in purple to mark World Polio Day, which highlights the fight against a disease which paralyses and kills mainly children.
Many of the region’s Rotary Clubs, including Whitley Bay, have partnered with local authorities, organisations and companies, to light up monuments, churches, clocks, buildings and other landmarks on October 24th 2021.
In Whitley Bay St Mary’s Lighthouse will turn purple for at least 24 hours.
Whitley Bay President Liz Hayes said: ‘Polio is a paralysing and potentially fatal disease that still threatens mainly children under five in some parts of the world. Polio can be prevented by vaccines, is not curable, but unlike most diseases, polio can be eradicated.
By lighting up landmarks in Whitley Bay we hope to draw attention to the ongoing campaign and we’re very grateful to North Tyneside Council for taking part in this vital project.’
Rotary North East District Governor, Alan Cartwright said that polio is still endemic in two countries – Afghanistan and Pakistan – and the Rotary Polio Plus program is the first initiative to tackle global polio eradication by vaccinating children on a massive scale.
Rotary International has committed to raising $50 million per year for polio eradication and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation matches that 2-to-1.
These funds provide operational support, medical workers, laboratory equipment and educational materials. Governments, corporations and private donors all play a crucial role in funding.
Information on World Polio Day and the ongoing campaign and how to contribute will be available on the Rotary North East website, on Facebook and on social media.
If you are interested in finding out more about Whitley Bay Rotary Club, please contact us either on enquiries@whitleybayrotaryclub.co.uk or by telephoning 07419 736989.