Help the Rotary Campaign to get a Million People walking in the UK and raise money for PolioPlus

The Rotary Promise & Progress

In 1985 Rotary launched PolioPlus, one of the most ambitious humanitarian programmes ever undertaken by a private entity. PolioPlus was in large part the catalyst for the World Health Assembly’s adoption in 1988 of the goal of eradication. Rotary takes pride in its commitment to help achieve a polio-free world during the next few years. Today, thanks to Rotary and its global partners, the world is on the threshold of eradicating the poliovirus. Polio cases have dropped by 99.8% since 1988. More than two billion children have been immunised, and four million spared death or paralysis.

The Challenge

Rotary International has announced a new one-year fundraising campaign to raise £50 million sterling worldwide, to close the funding gap. Of this target Rotary Clubs in Great Britain and Ireland aim to raise £3 million by June 2003, and one of the means of reaching this target is by mobilising a million people to walk for PolioPlus. How can the Businesses and People of Bridgwater Help? The sum required seems enormous, but £3 million can only be raised in our islands if every Rotary Club, supported by every community, makes a contribution. This is where your help and support is required.

The Bridgwater Rotary Charity Walk is held once every year, and is an opportunity for you to collect money for your favourite charity. It is fully organised by the Rotary Club and all you need to do is collect sponsorship money that you can donate to your nominated charity. So come and have fun and turn up at 2.30pm on Sunday 2 March 2003, at the Cornhill, Bridgwater. You pay a nominal charge of £4.00 (£2.00 if under 16) and £3.00 (£1.00) of this money will be donated to the Rotary PolioPlus Fund that will help us eradicate this dreadful disease from the face of the earth. The gentle walk is approximately 3.5 miles around the town centre area and doesn’t involve any hills! Remember you can raise money for your favourite charity as well.

Sponsorship forms are available beforehand from Rotarian David Gwilliam, Edington, Bridgwater TA7 9JN Telephone 01278 722977, (daytime) or from the Bridgwater Mercury Office, Clarence House, High Street, Bridgwater. Donations to the PolioPlus fund will be very welcome if you are walking or not and should be sent to Rotarian David Gwilliam at his address above.

Thank you

The Rotary Young Musician of the Year Competition
The Clare Bowen Suite, Bridgwater College at 7.00pm
Friday 21 March 2003
Three age groups, under 11, 12-14 & 15 - 18 yrs
Admission free
Contact Rotarian Jack for more information
Telephone 01823 274896