Friday October 1st 2010 sees London’s Trafalgar Square being handed over to Thanks for Life for a day.
Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI), the Eden Project and the International Flower Bulb Centre (IFBC) are joining forces to launch the Big Bulb Plant in conjunction with Thanks for Life.
A massive stage is being set up in the square to officially launch the campaign which will see hundreds of volunteers get local communities involved with planting crocuses and raising funds to help End Polio Now.
Over 4.6 million crocus bulbs are ready to be planted throughout the coming weeks in all sorts of places. Volunteers are also aiming to break the Guinness World Record for the most number of people simultaneously planting bulbs.
Since 1985, Rotarians across the whole world have been raising funds, raising awareness and helping administer the polio vaccine in endemic countries. Millions of young children have been spared from the curse of this crippling and potentially fatal disease thanks to the hard work of Rotary members working alongside Unicef, WHO and other health organisations. Once, there were 129 endemic countries with 350,000 children being infected every year. Now, 25 years on, there are only 4 endemic countries and new cases have declined to around 1,000 per year.
The Purple Giant crocuses will not only brighten up the environment, when they bloom in February it will be at the climax of the Thanks for Life campaign. The purple colour is symbolic of the dye used to mark a child’s little finger once they have been protected from the disease.
To be involved with planting crocus bulbs in your community and fundraising opportunities, contact your local Rotary club. Alternatively, visit Thanks for Life.
*Figures correct at time of publishing. Provided by Global Polio Eradication Initiative .
