CONFIDENT Rotarians say they will raise £1 million by December as part of their campaign to eradicate polio.

Members of the Kelvedon and District Rotary Club have so far donated £2,500 to the cause by filling empty jars of Wilkin and Sons’ jam with pound coins.

The fundraising initiative Purple 4 Polio, backed by the Gazette, saw 52,000 jars distributed to every Rotarian across the UK earlier this year.

Nigel Dyson, of the Kelvedon and District branch, believes the organisation is on track to raise £3 million by the end of the Rotary year in June 2017.

The Little Bentley resident said: “I’m convinced we’ll hit the target on the jam. The money is coming in thick and fast.

“The momentum will continue until we completely finish the challenge of eradicating polio. There’s no way it will slow down.

“One member in Manchester raised £1,250 from just one jar by passing it round to all his friends.

“Every Rotarian is absolutely behind it.”

Each jam jar should raise about £20.

Once the campaign reaches the £1 million mark, the money will be double match funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to total £3 million.

Everything is looking up with the total number of reported polio cases having dropped significantly from 37 last year to just six in 2017 - four in Afghanistan and two in Pakistan - which are two of the three countries where polio remains endemic.

Nigeria, the other endemic country, has had zero cases this year.

A spokesperson for the Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, said: “Predictions are that 2017 may well be the year where we see the final case of wild polio.

“The Purple 4 Polio campaign is continuing in Great Britain and Ireland this year.

"Our national President Denis Spiller is keen that polio eradication remains a key focus.

“The Rotary is partnering with the Royal Horticultural Society again this year to plant purple crocuses.

"These have become a symbol of the campaign as they represent the purple dye which is coloured on a child’s finger when they are vaccinated.”

To support the local campaign, contact Nigel Dyson on nigel@garden-shows.com.