26/10/2026
On 26th September we highlighted Rotary's End Polio Now campaign on 24th October.
TODAY we reacted to the challenge by holding a "Rid the World of Polio" lunch.
We must acknowledge that the success of the lunch was down to the initial idea of Past President William Stevens and then managed by Inner Wheel member Carol Hansen and her faithful catering team at the Clacton Bowls Club, and to whom we are also grateful for the use of their premises. "Thank You one and all"
Polio eradication has long been the challenge undertaken by Rotary and at this time it is 99.9% gone, with only clusters remaining in the more remote areas of the Pakistan and Afghanistan mountains.
The intention by Rotary is to ensure that every child across the world is able to receive a Polio vaccination or equivalent, and with the Bill Gates Foundation involving itself, the monies raised by Rotary are matched by the Foundation, so double the value for the vaccines.
Our photos of the event include the lovely buffet that Carol had just removed the covers from and was looking at, President Rob speaking to the 30+ present, having just played the Rotary International President's message on End Polio Now a few days before 24th October and then going on to thank Carol for all her hard work, a lot of empty plates in front of contented members and partners, the raffle table and Carol's own End Polio Now bears on the bar counter. They were something that she and her late husband Ray had initiated and Carol was to ask that we feed the bears with coins in their collecting boxes.
When the final total in known we will make an announcement on what we collected.
