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Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council Logo

29/10/2024

Newtownabbey Rotary Club Plant Crocus Corms for World Polio Day at the V36, Newtownabbey

Newtownabbey Rotary Club along with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council planted Crocus corms at the V36 Adventure Play Area on Thursday 24 October to celebrate World Polio Day.

Newtownabbey Rotary Club’s Foundation Committee Chairperson, Leonard Sproule, requested that Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council join in the Club’s plan to plant 4,000 Crocus corms for a commemorative bed.

Deputy Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Paul Dunlop BEM commented,

“The Council is proud to be supporting Newtownabbey Rotary Club’s initiative which raises awareness of the importance of eradicating polio worldwide as well as improving biodiversity and enhancing the beauty of the V36.”

The blooming Crocus corms will display a striking shade of purple. Purple has become a symbolic colour in the fight against polio. Inspired by the colour of the dye painted on the little finger of a child to signify they have received a potentially life-saving polio vaccine.

Since Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1985 the cases of polio have plummeted by more than 99.9%.

Rotary has contributed more than US$2.1 billion to ending polio and Newtownabbey Rotary Club has supported this campaign since it began.