ROTARY globally has long supported a world-wide project to eliminate the scourge of polio, and the Holsworthy branch have been doing their part planting crocuses around their town.

Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) over 30 years ago, when the hope was that the disease would be eradicated by the year 2000.

Since then the incidence of polio worldwide has plummeted by more than 99.99% from about 350,000 cases a year in 125 countries, to just 22 cases in 2017 and just three remaining polio-endemic countries — Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria. But, 2018 has been far from easy, with 14 cases in the first eight months of the year.

Every pound raised by Rotary is matched by two pounds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, in support of a vaccination programme to protect children.

In the last year, there have been fewer than 20 new cases of polio, which means they are very close to achieving the goal.

A symbol of the campaign is the purple crocus, representing the purple mark placed on the fingers of children who have been vaccinated.

At the end of last year, the local branch planted a number of crocuses along the path towards The Long House, North Devon Hospice’s outreach centre in Holsworthy.

Jess Burford-Redgrove, from North Devon Hospice’s fundraising team, said: “We are really looking forward to the beautiful purple crocuses coming up around the path to The Long House.

“This will be a beautiful addition to our garden and by planting the crocuses we’re proud to support the work of the Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign.”

The Holsworthy branch has also given 5,000 crocuses to the town council, which will be planted around the town.