Forres Tolbooth to light up purple on October 23 and 24 to celebrate World Polio Day
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A LOCAL service organisation is marking the discovery of the polio vaccine with a lights show this weekend.
Rotary Club of Forres is celebrating World Polio Day (October 24) with the help of Forres Heritage Trust (FHT) by lighting the Tolbooth up purple.
Rotary international/foundation convener, Doreen McCaig, confirmed the colour signifies the dye used on the little fingers of children who have received life-saving mass polio immunisation.
She said: "We're very pleased that FHT has agreed to help us promote this significant campaign. All over the world, buildings will be lit up in purple so it's tremendous that we will also be doing our bit."
She added: "The Tolbooth is perfect as it is so central. Over the weekend we'll have Rotary members on High Street to explain what is happening. We're really looking forward to it."
World Polio Day was established by Rotary International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis.
Use of the inactivated poliovirus vaccine and subsequent widespread use of the oral poliovirus, developed by Albert Sabin, led to the establishment of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988.
Rotary Clubs have been campaigning since 1985 when there were still 125 polio endemic countries. Their campaign aims to eradicate the disease which remains endemic in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.
The Tolbooth will light up on Saturday October 23 and Sunday October 24.
Rotary members will also be at Forres Tesco on Saturday to collect money for the cause.
Doreen added: "We've had huge support from across the town and whilst we appreciate there are many local charities, it's encouraging to see that the people of Forres are always willing to help further afield as well.
"Rotary Clubs have worked tirelessly to eradicate polio and since the campaign began it’s now 99 per cent eradicated.”
FHT trustee and Rotary member Bob James is delighted to see the two groups of volunteers working together.
He said: "It’s a great example of two organisations helping each other, something which the people of Forres are very good at.
"The Tolbooth renovations, particularly around the clock tower which will be lit up, have just been completed so the building will be looking splendid for the occasion."
