The race to eradicate polio is one the home stretch and the Rotaract Blue club of the Cayman Islands is inviting everyone, children included, to join in the efforts to achieve this important goal.
Funds raised through a family friendly 5K run or walk will go toward the Global Eradication Initiative of the Polio Virus.
Rotary International members the world over have been working toward ending polio since 1985, and have so far raised $1.2 billion and vaccinated over 2 billion children. Rotaract Blue is challenging you to do your bit too.
Children are especially encouraged to join in as those younger than five are most vulnerable to the disease.
Rotaract Blue is a community based service club that is sponsored by Rotary Central. Rotaract clubs are the youth arm of Rotary International and its members consist of young adults between the ages of 18-30.
Polio is a disease that attacks the nervous system and one of 200-400 infected children will be paralysed or die from the disease. Huge strides have already been made with the initiative to completely eradicate polio. Since the initiative was launched, the number of cases has fallen by more than 99 per cent and by 2010 only four countries remained polio-endemic: Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria.
“When polio is eradicated, it will be the second disease in history to be eradicated – Smallpox was the first in 1980. This is wonderful initiative that we as young people would love to be a part of, for the health of our children, our grandchildren and their children,” said Trudy-Ann Baines, the International Service director for the Rotaract Blue Cayman Islands club and the organizer of the event.
Just $1 will save two children from the disease.
The course will take participants from the cinema in Camana Bay along the Paseo and over the ARC, twice. “As the name suggests, this is not a race, it’s a movement for a worthy cause as if one child in the world has polio, all children worldwide are at risk of contracting the virus through importation as has happened in China this year, which was previously deemed polio free for a number of years,” added Ms Baines.
Register online at caymanactive.com or on the day from 7am on the Paseo, Camana Bay.
Participation is $5 for 5- 12-year-olds, $15 for adults. The first 100 will receive T-shirt and there will be a random prize drawing at the end.
Related Videos
