Photograph: RIBI President Burman joined by District Governor Maxine Stoyel, Aysha Iqbal, Graham Dawe and Cameron Mitchell for the launch of the Plymouth ‘This Close’ campaign.
How close are we to finally ending polio? We are ‘This Close’ say Rotarians and several Plymouth personalities. Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland (RIBI) President, Ray Burman, and District 1290 District Governor, Maxine Stoyel, met up with the BBC’s Aysha Iqbal and Plymouth Albion’s Graham Dawe and Cameron Mitchell at Plymouth Albion RFC for the official launch of a local ‘This Close’ campaign.
Aysha, Graham and Cameron, together with celebrity chefs James Tanner and Peter Gorton, Olympic divers Tom Daley and Tonia Couch, Commonwealth Games Lawn Bowls gold medallist Natalie Melmore, face of Plymouth winner Lawrence Barnes and BBC Radio Devon’s David “Fitz” FitzGerald, are teaming up with local Rotarians to back the campaign which aims to raise funds for polio eradication.
Darren Hands, Rotary Club of Plympton, explained how this collaboration came about: “When Rotary International announced they were to make the ‘This Close‘ posters available for adaption by clubs and districts, I knew we could make a localised version with numerous people in the public eye helping us. I have been amazed, though, at how readily these guys gave up their time to pose for the campaign and also photographer John Allen who took all of the shots. I would like to thank them all for their support.”
Through the local campaign, it is also hoped that new members will be inspired to join clubs in West Devon and Cornwall and beyond as the posters contain details on how to join Rotary in District 1290 .
Polio eradication has been Rotary’s top priority since 1985. Since then, billions children have been protected from the crippling and sometime fatal disease. The number of endemic countries has fallen from 125 to just four: Afghanistan, northern India, Nigeria and Pakistan. To date in India there has been just 1 case reported this year. Rotary works alongside Unicef, CDC, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and WHO.
In November, Rotarians from clubs across Great Britain and Ireland will be flying out to India to support one of the many National Immunisation Days (NID) which take place every six weeks. These NIDs see millions of tiny children protected from this disease. Rotarians go out twice a year to support local Rotary clubs.
Be part of the campaign to eradicate polio. You can also visit ‘This Close‘ and create your own poster.
Find out more by contacting your local Rotary club and discover how you can make a world of difference.
