A past president who battled the odds to make his life a success after contracting polio is using profits from his autobiography to raise money for Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign.
Philip Whitmarsh was a lively four-year-old when he fell overwhile playing in the garden with his brother and sister and found he couldn’t get up. Life would never be the same again for Philip.
He had been struck down by the ‘summer plague’ -poliomyelitis. So began a nightmare of isolation wards and surgery, lying for months on end strapped to a metal frame, followed by the long slow climb to recovery.
Years of missed education saw him consigned to the dunce’s class, prey to the school bullies but he fought back and, thanks to a life-changing comment from a sympathetic teacher, he ended up with academic success and an award for outstanding achievement.
His refusal to accept second-best saw him achieve success in arange of different careers before setting up his own business and becoming Mayor of his home town in Frome as well as president ofthe Rotary Club of Frome.
Now he has achieved another long-standing ambition, to set it all down in a book as an inspiration to others and proof that it’s not the hand life deals you that counts, but the way you play it.
Philip Whitmarsh said: "It’s time to get serious about stamping out polio. No one needs to suffer the appalling after effects of polio – it is preventable. Together we can make a world without polio a reality."
The book, entitled ‘I’m not prepared to accept that!’ (Philip’s catchphrase) is on sale now for the retail price of £10. A special deal has been set up for Rotarians ensuring that £3 from their purchase goes towards Rotary’s $100 million challenge to stamp out Polio forever. Contact Phillip on 01373 463902 or philchris@telecomplus.org.uk to order your copy now.
08/05/08
