Rotary Club Of Reading Maiden Erlegh

IN 1988, there were more than 1,000 cases of polio a day in 125 countries, leaving 350,000 children paralysed.

It was in that year that Rotary International started its global eradication programme.

It has since formed a partnership with other organisations and they are close to eradicating the disease worldwide.

Rotary has donated more than $2.1 billion to the project over the years.

The only polio outbreaks this year have been in Afghanistan and Pakistan and these have been in low numbers. Africa is now free of polio. More than 400,000 children a year now receive a polio vaccination.

Since it was formed in 1991, the Rotary Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh has raised and donated more than £20,000 from funds raised locally towards the programme and a few members have travelled abroad to help administer the vaccine.

The Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation triples any Rotary donations, so the actual money contributed is much more.

Richard Nicholson, president of the club, says: “We are proud that Rotary International started the initiative and it has been so successful.

“Our club supports the initiative each year and we are delighted to have played a small part in its phenomenal success.”

The Rotary Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh was formed in 1989 and serves the communities of East Reading, Sonning, Wargrave, Twyford and Shinfield.

It has raised more than £500,000 for charity since it started and supports mainly local and international causes.

It meets weekly on Tuesdays at various locations and always welcomes new members.

For more information, visit https://www.readingmaiden
erlegh.org/

Tony Cornell