Earlier this week, I joined the Rotary Club of Bilston & Wolverhampton West, ahead of World Polio Day at Bilston C of E School in Ettingshall.
Rotary clubs worldwide help to plant millions of purple crocuses every year to raise awareness for efforts to end polio by adding a splash of purple to our communities.
The reason Rotary choose (purple) crocuses is because when a child receives their life saving polio drops on mass polio immunisation days in many countries their little finger is painted with a purple dye so it is clear they have received their life saving vaccine.
Spring each year sees a beautiful purple carpet of crocus blooming in our local community to remind people about the campaign.
This year was a significant year in the fight against polio as Rotary celebrated a monumental achievement as in August, all 47 countries of wild poliovirus had officially been stopped declaring the region polio free.
Crocuses have also been planted in other areas of Bilston too including at the famous Bert Turner Boulevard.
We were able to talk to the children (at a social distance) about the need to eradicate the life threatening and disabling poliovirus.
And, whilst planting crocuses, I donated some apple and pear trees to the school which the children planted.
It’s so important that children have access to fruit and healthy foods.
The school already provide free fruit for children so these trees will allow them to grow their own on site.
