easyJet, Europe’s leading airline, has recently launched its winter collection to support Unicef’s global fight against polio, a crippling and potentially fatal disease.
Passengers travelling on easyJet flights will be able to donate their spare change and unwanted foreign currency to Unicef, the world’s leading children’s organisation. All spare change donated will help Unicef to continue to deliver essential polio vaccines to vulnerable children and stop the spread of this highly contagious disease.
This winter’s onboard collection follows the successful summer collection and recent emergency appeal, which supported Unicef’s continuing efforts in West Africa tackling the Ebola crisis. To date, over £3.9 million has been raised through the Change for Good partnership between easyJet and Unicef and the generosity of easyJet customers.
Tina Milton, Head of Cabin Services, commented:
“I would like to thank all of our customers for their kindness and generosity over the past weeks with our emergency appeal which was raising funds to help children affected by the Ebola crisis. This is, of course, all made possible by our fantastic crew, who day in and day out go the extra mile to raise money for Unicef.”
“Our winter collection will be continuing to collect for our core cause of working towards the eradication of polio. As a pan-European airline flying on over 700 routes we have a fantastic opportunity to help make a real difference and provide thousands of life-changing vaccines.”
Ongoing vaccinations against polio are essential to stop the spread of this disease. In 2008, polio was endemic in 125 countries but thanks to effective vaccination programmes, there are just three countries where polio remains firmly entrenched – Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan.
While polio remains endemic in only three countries, it continues to pose a risk to children everywhere.
David Bull, Executive Director at Unicef UK said:
“Do please drop any currency you can spare into the Unicef collection bag on board your easyJet flight. Even a little bit of spare change really does make a big difference. It costs so little to protect children in danger from polio, which is a devastating, life changing disease.”
Just 27p donated could buy three polio vaccines giving a child a lifetime of immunity from polio, a highly infectious disease that can cause paralysis and even death.
The winter collection will continue on easyJet flights until the 6th February 2015.
© easyJet
