How Halifax is going 'Purple for Polio' - from head shaves to lighting up landmarks

Ramesh Mistry and Ken Robertshaw of the Rotary Club of Halifax have dyed their hair and beards purple to bring attention to the campaign and on October 24 as part of the World Polio Day events there will be on a stall at the Piece Hall, Halifax where they will be publicly shaved of their beards and locks.

The stall will be in Halifax from 10am to 8pm and residents are invited to attend, with social distancing, to witness this event and to learn more about the campaign and Rotary Club activities.

A site has been set up to receive donations in support of their efforts which can be accessed at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/purpleNshaveAlso at The Piece Hall on Friday, October 23, the landmark will light up purple to show its support for the campaign.

The Bandstand and Piece Hall lights will be turned purple at around 6.15pm.

Wainhouse Tower will also light up purple in aid of World Polio Day.

In 1985 there were over 1000 cases of Polio being recorded in the World every day paralyzing, and killing, many of the victims.

Rotary International pledged that they would fight this disease and launched what has now become the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, an alliance with the World Health Organisation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

This has led to a reduction from that awful headline figure to less than 100 in the last 12 months.

The fight goes on to wipe out this disease and Rotary Clubs are still at the forefront. Recently the whole of Africa was declared Polio free and there are only two countries left to become fully clear; Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Volunteers continue to work to reach the children of these countries and vaccinate them and prevent polio taking hold and affecting them, despite the many obstacles and dangers they face.

As each child is treated they have their little fingers dyed purple to indicate that they have been treated.