Volunteers Gather to Paint the Town Purple Once Again

The unpredictable autumn weather held off on Saturday as volunteers from Maidenhead Bridge Rotary Club gathered to plant crocuses around the town. Rotarians of all ages donned their wellies and rolled up their sleeves to sow a carpet of purple crocuses, which will bloom early next year.
 
The initiative is part of Rotary’s ongoing effort to raise awareness of the global campaign to eradicate the polio virus. Polio, a disease that causes paralysis primarily in children under five, was once widespread in over half the world. Rotary International became a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in the 1980s, when the disease affected 350,000 children a year. Today, thanks to a global vaccination and monitoring programme, the wild polio virus remains endemic in only two countries, with just 72 reported cases worldwide this year.
 
Rotary’s ‘Purple4Polio’ campaign raising money for Rotary End Polio Now is so-called because purple is the colour of the dye placed on the little finger on the left hand of a child to show that they have been immunised against polio.
 
One of the amazing powers of Rotary, due to its NGO status, is its ability to negotiate with leaders of countries to allow the continuation of the vaccination programme. Exciting news this week is that the Global Polio Eradication Initiative received the greenlight to resume house-to-house vaccination campaigns in Afghanistan, which had been halted for over three years. Starting on November 8, these campaigns will target over 3.3 million children in previously inaccessible parts of the country.
 
This year, more than a dozen volunteers from Maidenhead Bridge Rotary planted crocus corms at Bridge Gardens, the Desborough Theatre behind the Town Hall, and along key approaches to the town on Furze Platt Road.
 
Harrie Hayward, Project Coordinator, said: “Rotary’s commitment to eradicating polio has been a driving force for me. It’s remarkable to witness how the vaccination campaign has succeeded in bringing the virus to the brink of elimination. The polio virus is now fighting for survival as cases continue to drop every year.”
 
Rotary’s slogan, ‘We are people of action,’ is reflected in these community efforts. Whether it’s delivering food parcels at Christmas to families in need, organising the Maidenhead Boundary Walk, or supporting local events, Rotarians are constantly working to improve the community.
 
“This year, it was wonderful to see new members joining in the planting efforts, and to witness the continued enthusiasm for this important cause,” Harrie continued.
 
For more information and to be kept up to date about other events organised by the club click here or contact Lisa Hunter on 07876 341334 or e-mail [email protected]

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