Two Rugby Rotary Clubs team up for fundraising concert in aid of Polio campaign
Two Rotary Clubs in Rugby teamed up to hold a fundraising concert in aid of a campaign working to eradicate Polio.
Rotary Club of Rugby and Rotary Club of Rugby Saturday Breakfast joined musical forces to stage the End Polio Now concert, which took place in a packed St Mark’s Church in Bilton – which was also lit up in Polio campaign purple.
The event, which raised £3,600, showcased the talents of the Woodland Singers, Rugby Male Voice Choir and the Ukrainian Singers, to mark World Polio Day.
Spokesperson for The Rotary Club of Rugby, Pauline Kimber, said: “If we stopped the immunisations now - within 10 years there would be possibly 200,000 deaths per annum worldwide from Polio.
“As it was we raised almost £1,200 and with matching grants makes it up to £3,600 enabling up to save over 7,000 children’s lives from the disease (each dose of vaccine costs just approximately 50p).
“The disease is now only endemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan, political systems hold us up there – but it means that the virus could be just a plane ride away.
“We have to keep vaccinating all children worldwide to ensure continuing immunity.”
President Stuart Boulton told everyone of Rotary’s continuing fight against the disease.
It was also a goodbye to Hilary Griffiths, the leader and inspiration of the Woodland Singers for many years – who is moving away from Rugby.
Dr John Clegg was able to join the celebration, which has been an annual event for many years.
He told everyone first-hand of the work he does with Polio camps in India.