THE latest community news from Mawddach

Rotary Club

PEOPLE have been asked to go purple to fight polio.

On Friday (20 April) Mawddach Rotary Club are hosting a film and food event with all proceeds donated to the Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign.

The charity organisation have organised for the film Breathe, starring Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy, to be shown in the Dragon Theatre.

The film focuses on the life of Robin Cavendish, who was given only three months to live after being paralysed from the neck down by polio at age 28, who becomes a pioneering advocate for the disabled.

The Rotary Club have asked those attending to wear special clothing.

“Those attending the latest Rotary charity film night at the Dragon are asked to wear something purple,” a spokesperson said.

“The more purple the better, there may well be a prize for the purpleist.

“What’s it in aid of? For over 40 years Rotary Internationally - that’s over 1.2 million members - have been involved in raising funds to help with the enormous financial burden of funding the continuing effort to eliminate all the wild polio strains in the world.

“In 1988 Polio was still endemic in over 60 countries, by 2008 it was down to 8 and by 2012 down to four. Now just Afganistan, Pakistan and Nigeria remain to be cleared of this deadly virus.

“Polio strikes the young, usually under 5, and many of the victims can be paralysed for life.

“The only way to rid the world of this virus, is to maintain the colossal task of vaccinating every child twice a year in the remaining countries where it is endemic.

“Unfortunately these are heavily populated countries with generally poor hygiene and difficult terrain.

“Even so, the monumental task of administering these vaccines continues and millions of children receive visits from the mobile vaccination teams. This is where the Purple comes in. Every vaccinated child has a fingernail marked with an indelible purple dye. This ensures that the eagle eyed vaccination teams can quickly spot children who have not been seen in schools, clinics or homes.”

There is an option of a fish and chips supper served before the film. Tickets £12, must be pre-booked on 01341 281 697.

Tickets for film only £7, available on the door on the night.

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