Rotary Club Balloon Release

Strong wind did not prevent charitable islanders from raising money to stop a crippling disease.

Minster-on-Sea Rotary Club released 10,000 balloons at The Leas in Minster on Thursday to raise awareness of the fight to end polio.

The dozen Rotarians were joined by 16 students from the Isle of Sheppey Academy’s Interact, and other members of the community for release at 10.30a.m.

Minster Rotary Club’s vocational and community chairman Tony Potter said the day was a success. He said “We made just about £700 towards the End Polio Now campaign.”

The balloons were sponsored by Baloonatic in Sheerness. Mr Potter said: “ We are immensely grateful because it kept the costs down for us which means we have been able to donate more to the campaign.”

The day was hit with some difficulties, however. A helicopter was due to drop the Rotary club’s district governor John Dunkley at the ceremony, but had to be cancelled due to 44 mile-an hour winds.

The gusts also played havoc with a marquee that Rotarians started setting up at 7.30a.m. and according to Mr Potter, took the balloons off very swiftly on release.

Mr Potter said: “The wind was horrendous. We tried to put a marquee up but it kept getting blown away.”

It was hoped the balloon release would be in front of a bed of 684 crocuses planted by the Rotary club in October as part of a world record attempt, but the plants are yet to bloom. Money from the Rotary club has already helped to combat polio across the world. Mr Potter said: “Back in 1980 there were hundreds of cases of polio every year, now it is into single figures.”