Thanks for Life initiative - Eradication of Polio- Tesco, Castle Douglas 27 Feb 2010

INFORMATION SHEET -CD Rotary Club Members

'Thanks for Life' is a project involving UK Rotary Clubs aimed at helping to eradicate polio throughout the world. See www.ribi.org/thanks-for-life which links to a schools resources part www.ribi.org/thanks-for-life/for-schools and a one day 'Purple Pinkie' project www.ribi.org/thanks-for-life/for-rotarians/purple-pinkie

In short, Rotary has had an 'End Polio Now' project since 1985, now backed up by 50% match funding by Bill Gates, Mircosoft. There are now only 4 countries where polio is endemic - India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Rotary is now mounting a renewed campaign to completely eradicate polio from the world. There is soon to be a Thanks for Life Day on 23rd February 2010 to highlight the cause across RIBI.

As you will see from the websites the overall Education project is large and we have recently brought this information to the attention of schools in our Rotary area to raise awareness in case individual Schools wish to undergo individual projects with these resources.

As for Castle Douglas Rotary, we have joined with Dalbeattie and Kirkcudbright Rotary Clubs to have a presence at Tesco Castle Douglas on Saturday 27th February - local publicity soon. This will involve checkout bag packing, the wishing well and a recruitment desk for rotary. Rotary members, partners and friends are asked to be available for a 2 hour slot. Details to follow.

In advance of the event on the 27th February the 3 Stewartry Rotary Clubs will liaise with the local media in an effort to ensure the maximum publicity is generated for this important rotary event.

Purple Wrist Bands - In addition, in an effort to support the 'Purple Pinkie' initiative - see link above, and the fact that 50p is the cost of a single immunisation, the club is purchasing purple wrist bands through a rotary club in Northern Ireland with a view to raise awareness in schools and the wider community. Therefore, Instead of marking the fingers of those who contribute in purple dye, - to make it even simpler, we suggest purple wrist bands could be purchased at £1 each - thus paying for 2 immunisations.

Derek Crichton Robin Hogg 14.1.2010