Purple lights lit up the trees in Lister and Langmoor Gardens as the Rotary Club of Lyme Regis joined communities around the world to mark World Polio Day.
The Rotary Club of Lyme Regis became the latest organisation to take advantage of the colourful lighting display with the support of Lyme Regis Town Council as part of Rotary International’s global Purple for Polio campaign.
The colour holds special significance, as children receiving the polio vaccine have traditionally had a finger marked with purple dye to show they have been immunised.
The event in October highlighted the progress made in the fight against polio since Rotary launched its eradication campaign in 1985.
At the time, more than 350,000 cases were reported annually across 125 countries.
Thanks to decades of worldwide vaccination programmes and international cooperation, cases have been reduced by more than 99.9%.
Rotary continues to play a leading role in the effort, raising around $50million each year towards vaccination programmes.
Organisations including UNICEF and the World Health Organisation also contribute to the global campaign.
Members of the Rotary Club of Lyme Regis say they are proud to support an initiative that demonstrates how local action can contribute to global change.
The purple-lit gardens served as a reminder that, while enormous progress has been made, continued vaccination programmes remain vital until polio is eradicated for good.
For more information about the Rotary Club of Lyme Regis and its community activities, visit www.lymeregisrotary.org or email info.lymeregisrotary@gmail.com.