The rain dried up and the sun was shining so Leswalt pupils donned their Winter cosies and wellies and headed to Aldouran Wetlands to meet members of Stranraer Rotary Club. They had invited us along to plant purple crocus bulbs as part of Rotary International’s Purple for Polio awareness campaign.
Polio is a disease which can cause paralysis. Fortunately there is a vaccination which is given to children and so it has akmost been eradicated worldwide. Almost – but not quite. The Purple 4 Polio campaign was introduced by Rotary International in 1985 as a way to remind us all of this awful disease and to help raise awareness towards fundraising. A life-changing vaccine for a child costs just 20p! But, in some countries, this isn’t readily available.
Our Leswalt pupils were welcomed by a team of Rotary volunteers led by Mr Gordon Wemyss. The helpers dug the holes, whilst the willing children followed behind planting the bulbs into the holes. A whopping 3000 crocus bulbs were planted!
So, keep your eyes peeled next Spring for a beautiful array of crocuses – and remember Purple 4 Polio!
