The daughter of the last victim of polio in the North East is raising money in memory of her mum, who passed away last month following a short illness. 

Alysia Jenkins Hyde is fundraising for the End Polio Now campaign, to honour the memory of her mother, Liz Jenkins, who was a dedicated teacher and vocal proponent of vaccines, following her own sickness with polio.

Alongside the Leister Rotary Club, Alysia is hoping to raise money to provide vaccines to children who live in countries where polio is yet to be eradicated. 

At only 15 months old, Liz, from Newton Aycliffe, was one of the last people in the North East to contract polio. 

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The disease had a devastating effect on Liz's early life, as she spent 18 months in a Nottingham hospital, far away from her family, where she underwent experimental surgeries. 

But Liz never let polio, or her limited mobility, stop her from living life to the fullest. She went on to become a teacher at Elmfield School, inspiring the children who came through her classroom door over the two decades she spent serving the community. 

Inspired by her mother's drive to bring positivity to everyone around her, Alysia has started a fundraising appeal to increase awareness and vaccination adherence for the disease that shaped Liz's life. 

She said: "My mam was the last case of polio in the North East, and the most severe, but she survived. She was treated in an Iron lung, was the youngest at the time to endure a spinal fusion, and had numerous operations on her feet legs and back.

"Despite this, she went to a 'normal' school, passed her 11+, became a teacher, a wife, a mother,  travelled the world and lived a glorious life.

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"No one should have to go through the childhood she did; separated from family, suffering operation after operation, living with unnecessary disabilities, having to struggle.

"Thanks to Salk's polio vaccination, incidences of the disease have decreased by over 99 per cent. Every child should have access to vaccinations, and thanks to donors, more will."

You can donate to Alysia's fundraiser using this link. Money donated will go towards the Rotary Clubs End Polio Now campaign, which sees over 400,000 children from 50 different countries vaccinated against the disease every year.