BIG hearted Redditch Rotarians are seeing all their labours last year burst into flower as a carpet of crocuses give a splash of colour across the town.
Members planted 5,000 of the bulbs and have just put up signs saying ‘End Polio Now’ to drive the message home.
For more than 30 years Rotary International, together with Microsoft guru Bill Gates and the UN, have raised funds and campaigned to eliminate polio, then endemic throughout the world.
In the process more than 2.5 billion children have received vaccinations against the disease thanks to the help of Rotary.
As a result there are only three new cases in the world, two in Afghanistan and one in Pakistan.
Peter Williams, president of the Rotary Club of Redditch said: “What a tremendous achievement and nearly there!
“Recently Redditch Rotary members planted 5,000 crocuses on five sites around town to publicise the campaign. This planting wouldn’t have been possible without the active
co-operation of borough council staff. It just shows the value of co-operation.
“Now we have put in place the signage, ‘End Polio Now’ so look out for the purple crocuses. Why purple? That’s the colour of the dye painted on the finger nails of those who have been treated.”
