Run a mile to help eradicate polio

Rotary Club of Richards Bay is holding its inaugural Run a Mile for Polio event this Saturday, at 8am at Veldenvlei Primary School.

“Your participation in this mile will be more than just a step towards the finish line, it will be a stride towards a polio-free world,” said Richards Bay Rotary Club president Anthony Parker.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three men and women.

There will also be a school and company challenge. The company with the most entries will win a trophy, and the school with the most entries wins a mystery prize.

Entries are R70 per person and online entries are available at www.racepass.rom, which closes today (23 October).

Registration is on Friday, 25 October from 2pm to 6pm, and entries can also be bought at the running venue.

For more information on Run a Mile for Polio, contact Lelanie Groenewald on 078 8024992 or Lauren van den Heuvel on 083 6468429.

Why should you care about polio?

Polio (short for poliomyelitis) is a highly infectious viral disease that can affect the brain and spinal cord, causing paralysis.

Children under 5 are at the highest risk and anyone who remains unvaccinated remains vulnerable.

Rotary International is one of the organisations that has worked on eradicating the virus.

In the 1980s, thousands were paralysed due to polio, whereas today only a small number of cases exist.

Due to routine immunisations in childhood, polio has not been seen in South Africa since 1989.

Since 2020, Africa has been declared free of the virus, with Afghanistan and Pakistan the two remaining polio-endemic countries in the world.

As long as the virus exists, it is at risk of spreading internationally.

All proceeds from the event will go directly to the Rotary End Polio campaign, supporting the global effort to eradicate polio.

“Whether you’re walking, jogging or running, every step brings us closer to a polio-free world,” said Parker.

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