Darlington town clock and the marketplace planters will be lit up in purple to mark World Polio Day on Sunday October 24, highlighting the fight against a disease which paralyses and kills mainly children.

Darlington Rotary has partnered with Darlington Borough Council to light up the town’s clock and marketplace and its members will also place purple tealight candles in their windows.

Darlington Rotary President Peter Phillips said: “Polio is a paralysing and potentially fatal disease that still threatens mainly children under five in some parts of the world.

“Polio can be prevented by vaccines, and is not curable, but unlike most diseases, polio can be eradicated.”

The Northern Echo: Darlington Rotary President, Peter PhillipsDarlington Rotary President, Peter Phillips

Read more: Queen Elizabeth College's supports campaign for polio vaccine

Jane Bradshaw, Chair of Darlington Rotary International Committee, said: “By lighting up landmarks we hope to draw attention to the ongoing campaign, and we’re very grateful to Darlington Borough Council for taking part in this vital project.”

Many of the North East’s 50 plus rotaries have partnered with local authorities, organisations and companies, to light up monuments, churches, clocks and other landmarks on the day.

Read more: Rotary welcomes polio-free Africa

Rotary North East District Governor, Alan Cartwright said polio is still endemic in two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the Rotary Polio Plus programme was the first initiative to tackle global polio eradication by vaccinating children on a massive scale.

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