SALISBURY Rotary Club is joining up with other clubs across the country to mark World Polio Day this Friday (October 24).

On the day, all Rotary Clubs will reaffirm their unwavering commitment to eradicating polio — a vaccine-preventable disease that once paralyzed hundreds of thousands of children each year.

In Salisbury, the Rotary Club, in conjunction with Salisbury City Council, will plant 4,000 purple crocus corms in Churchill Gardens next Tuesday (October 28) between 11am and 1pm and all are welcome to join.

Since launching its PolioPlus program in 1985, Rotary has contributed around £2 million and countless volunteer hours to the global fight against polio.

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In partnership with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), Rotary has helped reduce polio cases by 99.9% worldwide, with wild poliovirus now endemic in only two countries – Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“World Polio Day is a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come — and how close we are to making history,” said Alan Corkill, president of Salisbury Rotary Club.

“We are proud to be part of a global movement that’s changing the world, one child at a time.“

This year, Rotary clubs around the world are hosting events, fundraisers, and educational campaigns to raise awareness and support for polio eradication.

Every pound raised is matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, tripling the impact of each contribution.

Salisbury Rotary is encouraging everyone to join the fight by donating, advocating, and spreading the word to ensure that no child ever suffers from polio again.