By Les Sheppard | Community Service Chairman, Billericay Rotary Club
Many thanks to everyone who participated in Billericay Rotary Club's “END POLIO NOW Challenge 2024” microproject, in aid of eradicating Polio from the world. And special thanks if you made your donation via GlobalGiving on 'Giving Tuesday' (3rd December 2024), as we earned a 25.6% bonus on top of your donations on that day.
This year, thanks to your generosity, we raised an amazing £4,938 which is an 18% increase on last year’s £4,195. This total was double-matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, resulting in a £14,814 contribution to Rotary's 'End Polio Now' campaign. Converting this to actual vaccine shots (using UNICEF's best 2025 figure of $0.12 per dose) means that, thanks to your donations, over 155,000 children can be vaccinated.
So a big thank-you, not only to you, but also to our Government's Gift Aid scheme, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and to GlobalGiving's $750,000 “Giving Tuesday” Bonus Fund that enabled us to reach this impressive total.
Polio is now endemic in just two countries – Pakistan and Afghanistan. Sadly, in 2024 the number of confirmed Wild Poliovirus cases increased from 12 to 99 (74 in Pakistan and 25 in Afghanistan). Only 3 cases so far in 2025 though, which is encouraging. The fight continues!
We do hope you had a great Christmas and, once again, thank you so much for your support.
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