Members of the three Ashby Rotary Clubs will be on the streets of the town this Saturday (October 21) to collect money in the bid to eradicate the deadly Polio disease worldwide.

They will be happy to answer questions on Rotary's involvement with the campaign.

The occasion is to mark World Polio Day on October 24 when Ashby's Loudon memorial will be illuminated in purple.

It is a colour that signifies the purple mark made on children's index fingers that have been vaccinated against the disease.

Rotary has been associated with the campaign for the last 35 years, when the number of cases stood at around 350,000 in 125 endemic countries.

Now that figure has been reduced by 99.9 per cent and only two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, have reported cases of the disease this year.

The Loudon Memorial lit in purple. Photo by David Smith

Rotary members, working with communities around the world, have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to the fight to end polio.

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Ashby Rotarians have been involved with the campaign throughout its history, with valuable help from the local community.

The Ashby Clubs say they are looking forward to meeting you on Saturday, and also to seeing you the same evening at the Century Theatre, Snibston, in Coalville, for the 'Concert for the Mind' in aid of mental Health charities, which starts at 7.30 pm.

The concert will present Young Musicians from Ashby and the Music Academy for Schools, the famous 'Our Dementia Choir' that featured on BBC TV with actress Vicky McClure, and Chiltern Music Therapy.

Tickets cost £20 and all of the proceeds, excluding essential expenses, will be donated to the charities.

Tickets can be purchased from members of the Rotary Club of Ashby de la Zouch, or online through the QR code on the concert page of the Ashby Rotary Club website and on their social media pages or from HERE.