Rotarians get walking to end polio

THE Torquay Rotary Club has joined global efforts this month to step out and eradicate polio forever.

Ahead of World Polio Day, observed on October 24, the Rotary Walk With Us initiative is challenging Rotarians to walk, run or roll 10, 20, or 50km throughout the month and raise vital funds that will help eradicate and prepare everyone for a polio-free world.

Torquay Rotary Club member Lesley Shedden said the global Rotary organisation had been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years.

“Our goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever. As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we’ve reduced polio cases by 99.9 per cent since our first project in the Philippines in 1979.

Today polio remains endemic in only Afghanistan and Pakistan. But it’s crucial to continue working to keep other countries polio-free.

“If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyse as many as 200,000 children per year.”

A polio-free world would not mean the end of the disease, however, as funding would still be required for updated vaccination policies, including the phased withdrawal of oral polio vaccines, appropriate containment of the polio virus in facilities, certification that polio had been eradicated, and planning for the transition of knowledge and infrastructure to serve other health goals.

Team Torquay Rotary is inviting the community to join them in their efforts.

To take part, sign up with Team Torquay Rotary to walk or run as many kilometres as you like through the month of October, get a team together – as moving with friends, family or colleagues will be more fun – and track your journey goal and aim to get yourself on the leaderboard.

The online fitness challenge runs from October 1-31, and participants can decide where and when to complete their challenge.

“Wherever you live, whatever your fitness level, you can decide where, when and how you walk with us to end polio,” Ms Shedden said.

“Setting a challenging personal goal will make it more likely others will sponsor you.”

To donate to or sign up for Team Torquay Rotary, head to rotarywalkwithus.org/fundraisers/teamtorquayrotary

For more information on Rotary Walk With Us, head to rotarywalkwithus.org/home