Poundbury Rotary's Cream Tea Success: 3,000 Children Protected
- whatson1
- 18 minutes ago
- 2 min read
from Rotary Club of Dorchester Poundbury
What a wonderful afternoon it was on 23rd October at the Quiet Space! On behalf of the Poundbury Rotary Club, thanks to everyone who joined us for our free tea and scones event. We're delighted to announce that together we've raised £657.50 in donations for the global fight against polio - enough to vaccinate 3,000 children.
So Close to Victory
Worldwide, there are now just 39 cases of polio—down from more than 300,000 annually forty years ago. We're tantalisingly close to eradicating this devastating disease forever, but those final cases are the hardest to reach.
Why This Matters
Poliomyelitis once terrified populations across the globe, leaving thousands—particularly children—paralysed or disabled. In the early 20th century, hospitals overflowed with young patients during summer epidemics, many requiring 'iron lungs' to help them breathe.
The breakthrough came in the 1950s and 1960s when Dr. Jonas Salk and Dr. Albert Sabin developed effective vaccines. Since Rotary International adopted worldwide polio elimination in 1985, working alongside the World Health Organization, CDC, GAVI, UNICEF, and the Gates Foundation, the results have been extraordinary. Over the past forty years, Rotary has contributed three billion US dollars towards eradication efforts.
Your support means 3,000 more children protected, 3,000 more families spared this preventable disease. That's the real power of community coming together over scones and jam.
A Community Effort
These events don't happen without generous volunteers who organise, bake, serve, and clean up—or residents who turn up and make the afternoon special. The Quiet Space provided the perfect setting for an event about connection, conversation, and shared purpose.
A Testament to Global Cooperation
The polio story is one of the most remarkable public health achievements in history—a testament to the power of science, community action, and global collaboration. It reminds us what humanity can accomplish when united in purpose and driven by compassion.
Poundbury Rotary Club continues to support local and global causes through practical projects and fundraising events. If you'd like to get involved—whether as a member, volunteer, or supporter—we'd love to hear from you.
A big, big thank you from all of us at Poundbury Rotary Club.
Interested in Poundbury Rotary Club's work? Contact poundburyrotaryclub@gmail.com
For information about other community organisations in Poundbury, please visit our Community Groups and Societies page.