Polio fight marked by Spalding flower display

A flower display to mark charity efforts in Spalding is blooming fantastic.

On October 24 last year, members of the Rotary Club of South Holland planted 5,000 crocuses near the roundabout at the entrance to Sainsbury’s store to make World Polio Day.

It’s all part of the Rotary International’s Purple4Polio campaign.

The Rotary Club worldwide are heavily involved in the fight against the disease and have collectively raised tens of millions to combat it alongside the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Crocus flowers were used for their purple colour as that’s the colours children’s fingers are dyed who have been vaccinated against the disease.

Steve Colby of the Rotary Club of South Holland, said: “We have been waiting for the crocus to show themselves to remind passing motorists and shoppers of Rotary’s involvement in the fight against this crippling disease.

“The cold weather has not helped this year, but they showed themselves when the sun appeared at Easter.

“Only the global eradication of polio will ensure that no child will ever again suffer its devastating effects.

“In 2016 over 450 million children were vaccinated multiple times using more than two billion doses of oral vaccine.

“This will be done every year until the world is certified polio free.”

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