Three local Rotary Clubs: Peterborough, Bridgenorth Ennismore, and Lakefield (BEL) have introduced the Purple Pinkie fundraiser in support of a Polio Free World. A Purple Pinkie is realized when a child receives his/her 2 drop vaccine, their little finger is dipped in purple dye, so a duplication of vaccination does not occur.  A Purple Pinkie is also a $2 purchase of a paper hand with a small purple little finger.   Help us get rid of Polio forever! Buy a Virtual Purple Pinkie online at http://www.purplepinkie.ca

Three local Rotary Clubs: Peterborough, Bridgenorth Ennismore, and Lakefield (BEL) have introduced the Purple Pinkie fundraiser in support of a Polio Free World. A Purple Pinkie is realized when a child receives his/her 2 drop vaccine, their little finger is dipped in purple dye, so a duplication of vaccination does not occur.  A Purple Pinkie is also a $2 purchase of a paper hand with a small purple little finger.   Help us get rid of Polio forever! Buy a Virtual Purple Pinkie online at http://www.purplepinkie.ca

Rotary International (34,000 Clubs worldwide) along with WHO (World Health Organization), UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund), the US Center for Disease Control, various Governments, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, have collectively been working since the mid 1980's to rid the world of Polio.

Polio, as North Americans know it, is a disease of the 1950's when school aged children had arms or legs paralyzed by this debilitating epidemic.  Many experienced total body paralysis, and many others died.  The efforts of many in international research and international medicine have since reduced these numbers dramatically.  In 1988 there were 350,000 cases of Polio reported.  The organizations mentioned above have been diligently working to reduce these numbers and have experienced tremendous success.  The total number of cases reported in the year 2011, in the four countries that were still reporting incidences of contact, was 650.  In that year, India was designated Polio FREE.  The total number of cases reported in 2012, was 213.  We are SO CLOSE to having it eradicated!  The three countries where it is still prevalent are Pakistan, Afghanistan, and in Nigeria, Africa.  

We, as a World, are THIS CLOSE!!  Thank you for doing your part to help rid the world of Polio by simply purchasing a $2 Purple Pinkie on-line at http://www.purplepinkie.ca.  Deadline for on-line support through the Purple Pinkie campaign is February 28, 2013.  

Media Contact:   Winston Bromley – [email protected] – 1-888-634-1465