The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Buy jam today – help end polio tomorrow
It’s definitely a case of jam today for members of a Lochaber group.
At their recent meeting in Fort William, the district’s Rotarians bought lots of jars of the sweet stuff at £2 each for a very important cause – to help rid the world of polio for good.
As just 37 cases of the disease were found in three countries last year, members are now hopingthat thisnumberwill reduce even further in 2017.
Lochaber Rotary Club president, Paula Ross, said: “Ending polio is just one of the hundreds of initiatives Rotary is involved in to make a difference to communities at home and abroad.
“Wilkin and Sons supplied 52,000 jars of their Tiptree plum jam to help clubs around Britain raise funds for the charity Purple4Polio. It is hoped to collect up to £1million and, with additional funding through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this will grow to £3million.”
The jammy local Rotarians also decided, once their jars were empty, to fill them up again with coins to further boost the appeal funds.
The Rotary’s polio campaign began in 1985 with the promise that one day it would be completely eradicated so children throughout the world would no longer be at risk from the lifethreatening disease.
The club, which meets every week at the Alexandra Hotel, has thus far raised £10,000 towards this fundraising drive.
As well as other initiatives, one member, Robbie Robertson, sold purple crocus bulbs bringing inmorethan£300annually. Members also had to choose the winners in their annual competition. The best essay contest was open to all pupils in four localhighschools, Lochaber, Kinlochleven, Ardnamurchan and Mallaig.
The topic was “Actions speak louder than words” and, after much deliberation, it was a clean sweep for Kinlochleven High, with Holly Baldwin collecting first prize. Bethany Duffy and Aaron Aitken were named as runners-up. All are third year pupils at the school.
Holly’s essay was entitled “What to do about the Loneliness of Others”, a sensitive short story about two strangers who meet in a crowded coffee shop and share a bond of common humanity. She won a £50 voucher for her efforts with Bethany and Aaron each picking up vouchers for £25.
Mrs Ross added: “The standard of writing in the competition really was excellent and we extend our congratulations to Holly, Aaron and Bethany and also to the youth activities convener John Goodall and his team for all their hard work.”