Sutherland man takes the lead on fundraising for polio eradication
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A Brora man has come up with an ingenious plan to help eradicate polio throughout the world by 2025.
Alistair Risk, president of the East Sutherland Rotary Cub, wants everyone to support efforts to bring about an end to the killer disease – in their own time, rather than its annual fundraising events.
Fearful that a lack of funding would mean those who need them would not have access to vaccines, Mr Risk is calling on 100 groups to raise £500 each.
After community fundraising bringing in upwards of £20,000 over the last decade – this year Mr Risk is asking fundraisers to be sponsored for swimming and walking challenges.
He hopes to attract more than £50,000 for the Rotary Club International's drive to eradicate polio by 2025.
And his idea has been so popular, it has been adopted by Rotary UK.
While most of the world is polio free thanks to inoculations, areas in places such as Pakistan and Afghanistan still have hundreds of cases every year.
Mr Risk, who has lived in Brora for more than 30 years, said: "When I was a kid at school polio was rife in Scotland, school friends were crippled and some died – it was our pandemic!”
He continued: "If we stop fundraising, polio could flare up and infect the world population."
Mr Risk continued: "This year covid restrictions make a crowded pool impossible for our annual fundraising and a new idea was needed if we are to make the World Health Organisation's 2025 polio free target a reality.
"Rotary across Scotland has agreed to a new and relaxed format put forward by myself and this will be promoted to every club in Scotland.
"This allows those who swim, and have a pool open, to do so in their own time. But it offers the alternative taking on a sponsored walk throughout February.
"Golspie, Rogart, Helmsdale and Brora primary schools are going to take part. But every Sutherland resident and their families and friends are encouraged to join in and get sponsored to make it happen.
“I am proud of the contribution that the Sutherland people have made over the years and I do hope that they will help make this Sutherland-led initiative succeed.”
Sponsor forms will be available for downloading from the East Sutherland Rotary web site at www.sutherland.rotary1010.org, from Linda's Cafe in Brora, from the Sutherland Care Forum in Golspie or from the Sutherland swimming pool in Golspie.
