THE Rotary Club of Alloa will be taking action this weekend to raise awareness and funds on World Polio Day.

The vaccine-preventable disease still threatens children in parts of the world with Wee County Rotarians set to take forward a number of events this week.

With the help of schools and community groups, they will be planting thousands of purple crocuses in the recently enhanced Wimpy Park.

On Sunday, October 24, the club has organised another Tour de Clacks cycle event to raise funds and help eradicate the disease.

The chimney of the Speirs Centre will also be lit up in purple, a symbolic colour in the fight against polio.

If polio is not eradicated, it is estimated that as many as 200,000 children could succumb to the disease annually within a decade.

John Scott, president of Alloa Rotary Club, said: “We’re proud to be marking World Polio Day locally and recognising the work of Rotary and our partners and the millions of people involved in so many ways in the fight for a polio free world.

“Only together can we end polio, a virus that is still potentially just a plane ride away.

“We have seen over the past two years with Covid-19, that cases of a disease anywhere, is a threat to everyone, everywhere.

“We’ve also seen the power of vaccines and community togetherness, and how we can all play our part.

The Spowage family taking part in the previous Tour de Clacks event

The Spowage family taking part in the previous Tour de Clacks event

“The members of Alloa Rotary remain committed to working with our communities and our partners to eliminate this potentially deadly virus and make Rotary's dream of a polio free world a reality.”

In August last year, Rotarians celebrated a significant milestone in the fight against the disease when the World Health Organisation certified the Africa region and its 47 countries free from wild polio.

This leaves just Pakistan and Afghanistan as the two remaining polio endemic countries in the world.

Globally, more than 2.5billion children have been protected against the disease and around the world, Rotary has committed to raising $50million each year to support the eradication effort with every dollar raised matched two to one by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Those interested in signing up for the Tour de Clacks cycling event this weekend can contact n Alun Morgan via alunwm@gmail.com, by calling 07836 219 743 or visit tourdeclacks.com.

The club is also on the lookout for new members, signal an interest by emailing membership@alloa.rotary1010.org.