Call to get behind East Sutherland Rotary Club's February fundraiser in aid of End Polio Now campaign

East Sutherland Rotary Club is preparing for its February fundraiser in aid of the organisation’s global End Polio Now campaign.

For the last 15 years the club has run a swimarathon in February, raising more than £30,000 for Rotary International’s work to eradicate polio, which involves vaccination programmes.

However the swimarathon was put on hold last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead the club encouraged local people to undertake sponsored walks, jogs and cycle rides during February.

And the same applies this year with the club deciding not to resume its swim event but to keep going for the time being with the alternative fundraiser.

Leading the way - as was the case last year - will be local mascot Selkie, a labrador owned by Rotarians Alistair and Fiona Risk.

Selkie will be instantly recognisable on walks wearing a distinctive purple coat on which is emblazoned: “I’m walking to raise money to eradicate polio.”

Anyone interested in taking part is invited to pick up a sponsorship form from local shops, Sutherland Swimming Pool or the Rotary club.

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