Rendlesham: Stokes Sauces supports Rotary battle against polio

SUFFOLK-based condiment producer Stokes Sauces is joining forces with Rotary Clubs in the East of England to help in the campaign to eradicate polio across the world.

Stokes is giving 2,500 jars of mayonnaise, with specially designed labels carrying the End Polio Now logo, to 77 Rotary clubs across the region.

The clubs will then sell the jars to Rotarians and their family and friends with a request that they fill them with coins once the product has been consumed. The coins and the proceeds from the sales will then all be donated to the international Rotary project to eradicate polio.

Leaders of the Rotary movement, commencing in 1985, inspired the World Health Assembly to pass a resolution to eradicate polio, which paved the way for the formation of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988.

In the last 24 years, the campaign has reduced the number of countries where polio is common to just three, with more than 2.5billion children having been immunised.

But although polio is 99% eradicated, the last 1% is the hardest because of the nature of the countries where it is still found.

It has been estimated that eradicating polio will save the world between 40 and 50 billion US dollars over the next 20 years, money that can be put towards tackling other major diseases.

Rick Sheepshanks, managing director of Stokes Sauces, which is based at Rendlesham, near Woodbridge, said: “We are very happy to be able to support East of England Rotary Clubs in raising vital funds to help in the eradication of this terrible disease.”

Rotary district governor Trevor Sayer added: “We are delighted to be working with Stokes Sauces on this joint initiative and believe we will generate significant local funds to aid the global effort to ‘End Polio Now’ whilst having fun and enjoyment in the process.”