A LEADING Rotarian is spending half a day walking 30 miles to help the fight against polio.

Durham Rotary Club president David Yates is trekking around the grounds of the Maiden Castle sports complex on the city’s outskirts today (Friday, October 24) to raise money for charities supporting polio treatment across the world.

Mr Yates began the gruelling 12-hour trek at 8am after World Polio Day volunteers in India completed their own charity walk.

Several thousand miles away in America, volunteers were poised to begin another 12-hour hike at the exact moment Mr Yates completed his at 8pm.

Mr Yates was joined in the afternoon by the Mayor of Durham, John Robinson, who also expressed support for the campaign.

Together they hope to help raise awareness of the struggles faced by those suffering from the disease.

Mr Yates said: “The walk has been a great experience. Lots of people ended up joining in.

“We want to raise money to help support the Rotary polio campaign. We want to make people aware that polio is still a worldwide problem and we must continue to support the eradication of polio.”