Countdown to History
End Polio Now… That is the name of a campaign, begun by Rotary International in 1985, to rid the world of the debilitating disease polio. Since 1988 it has worked in partnership with the World Health Organisation, local agencies and, more recently, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Rotary in Harpenden have been a regular contributor to the campaign, donating a share of the money raised by our annual Quiz of Quizzes event. During the Covid pandemic, when we could not hold the quiz, we donated the proceeds from our virtual balloon race to the campaign.
Working together, the medical authorities in Pakistan and Afghanistan are making great strides in vaccinating children against polio. Only in those two countries does wild poliovirus remain endemic. Rotary in Harpenden will maintain their fundraising efforts in support
Find out more on the End Polio website.
Latest news
For Shoebox read Friendship Box
For 23 years Rotary in Harpenden, with the dedicated support of staff, students and parents of local primary and junior schools, have delivered Rotary Shoeboxes at Christmas time to disadvantaged children and elderly people in central and eastern Europe.
Lately, changes to the Rotary Shoebox Scheme made it unattractive for us to continue our involvement but, fortunately, at the same time we learnt of a new scheme. This involved filling crates with educational and recreational items for transport to Lviv, Ukraine, for distribution to children most affected by the war.
Judges give advice in Debating Contest
Before an audience of parents and teachers, teams from Harpenden’s senior schools debated subjects of their own choice in the annual Youth Speaks: The Debate contest. Organised by Rotary in Harpenden, the event was held at Aldwickbury Park Golf Club.