Kingsbridge Estuary Rotary Club are holding a cream tea event to raise money for the eradication of polio.

Held at the Thurlestone Parish Hall on Sunday, June 18, between 2-5pm, the event will raise money as part of the Rotary Club’s national PolioPlus programme.

John Braithwaite, chair of the Foundation and International Committee of KERC, said: “A raffle will be held including great prizes from local shops and hotels. Tiptree have nationally donated large amounts of greengage jam that we will be selling for £2 a jar, RRP £3, and our tea bags are all donated by Ty-Phoo.

“Combatting polio is the major battle that Rotary fights globally. The amount of polio-endemic countries has dropped from 125 to just three, with over 2.5 billion children receiving vaccinations.

“To date, globally, five new polio cases have been reported, and we need three years with no new cases reported to declare the world free of this devastating disease. Immunisation continues in over 60 countries.

“In 1985, Rotary launched its PolioPlus program, the first initiative to tackle global polio eradication through the mass vaccination of children. Rotary has contributed more than $1.6 billion and countless volunteer hours to immunise more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries.

“In addition, Rotary’s advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by donor governments to contribute more than $7.2 billion to the effort. 

“The Global Polio Eradication Initiative, formed in 1988, is a public-private partnership that includes Rotary, the World Health Organization, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and governments of the world.

“Rotary’s focus is advocacy, fundraising, volunteer recruitment and awareness building. 

“For every pound donated, the Gates Foundation has generously agreed to add a further two pounds, which makes money raised from our event go even further.”

Tickets are £5 each and will be on sale in advance from the Kingsbridge Information Centre on the Quay. You can contact KIC on 01548 853195.