Hyde Rotary joined forces with Brabyns Neighbourhood and Community Group, Dowson Primary Academy and Holy Trinity Primary School in a bid to brighten up local community gardens at Sam Redfern Green and The Rock Gee Cross next spring, and to raise money to assist The Rotary Foundation in their quest to eradicate polio worldwide.
The idea was instigated by Rotarian Maureen Clayton and the Brabyns secretary Jane Williams. The project started with a power point presentation at the school assemblies. The children were told about the project and the reason why Rotary was planting the purple crocus bulbs leading up to world polio day on October 24th.Today only three countries in the world Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria have new cases of polio. In 2016 only 37 cases of polio were reported worldwide.
The ground was prepared prior to the children’s visit where they planted 4000 crocus bulbs. This gave the children the opportunity to get involved in a community regeneration eco project and to learn more about the Work Rotary Foundation do throughout the world. Following the day working on the land the children were invited to enter a competition to choose a name for the Rotary polio bear the winners were selected and Rotary President Alan Oldham visited the schools to present a bear to each winning pupil.
The project raised £208.70 that will be sent to The Rotary Foundation. The money will be trebled by the Bill Gates Foundation trust and for each pound raised Rotary can provide five immunizations.

Hyde Rotary Club International and Foundation Chairperson Maureen Clayton would like to thank Brabyns Neighbourhood Community Group ,Dowson Primary Academy and Holy Trinity Primary School for taking part in this project and for helping Rotary eradicate polio worldwide.