Lighting up the Menai Strait Purple
BANGOR Rotary Club are well on with planning their second ‘Light up the Menai Strait Purple’ project to raise awareness of how close Rotary International’s campaign, which is supported generously by Bill and Melinda Gates, is to eradicating polio from the world.
This crippling and often fatal disease that affects children especially, was endemic in the UK until the advent of the British immunisations in the 1950s.
In those days many people died, or were confined to life in a massive coffin-like ‘iron lung’. Survivors often had to wear metal callipers to support their weakened legs for the rest of their lives. Even today many recovered polio victims have cruelly developed painful and debilitating post-polio syndrome which severely affects their mobility.
Fortunately today immunisations are freely available in Britain from early childhood, and travellers will know that further jabs are recommended to prevent contracting it on holiday – and also to stop it reoccurring here. These safeguards remain essential until the world is polio free.
Each week dedicated Rotary teams are in the remaining countries where the disease is still endemic carrying out immunisations, sometimes in very dangerous circumstances. Amazingly just £1 will immunise five children with life saving serum!
This year during ‘End Polio Now’ week, October 23-25, the Strait area will once again be illuminated purple.
On Sunday, October 20 there will be a multi-faith service at Bangor Cathedral open to everyone.
Caernarfon and Beaumaris Castles will glow purple (thanks to Cadw) as will the Anglesey Arms, Gazelle, Victoria and Bulkeley hotels, the cathedral and Pontio building – plus many more supportive businesses and private homes.
And Bangor Rotary Club have changed their former hi-vis charity event jackets for bright purple to add to the awareness campaign.
The club would love to hear from schools, businesses and anyone who would like to join in this incredible visual event and help rid the world of this disease.
And speakers can be arranged for any organisation requesting a presentation.
A spokesman said: “We’re so close to making it happen, please help if you can!”
Anyone wanting to get involved in any way, big or small, email: secretarybangor@gmail.com.