(Seguin) — Seguin residents are encouraged to take a few steps toward changing the world this weekend. The Seguin Rotary Club is inviting families, friends and walkers of all ages to join its two-mile World Polio Day walk this Saturday morning beginning at the Seguin Schoolyard.
The walk is designed to raise awareness of the ongoing fight against polio and support efforts to eliminate the disease worldwide.
Rotarian Julie Leos says Rotary International has spent more than 45 years working toward that goal, and while significant progress has been made, she says the work is not yet finished.
“We’re close, right? I think that’s the greatest thing about it,” said Leos. “We’ve reduced polio cases since 1988 since Rotary started working with this effort — just reduced cases around the world by 99.99 percent. So that’s close to 100. So we’re so close and we’re just really excited to be able to continue that effort.”
Polio is a potentially paralyzing disease that primarily affects children. Although it has been eliminated from most of the world, she says it remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan, making continued vaccination and prevention efforts important to protecting communities worldwide.
Leos says the event is open to everyone, regardless of fitness level, and participants do not have to complete the entire two-mile route to take part.
“Some people have said, ‘I’m going to bring my whole family,’ and bringing the kids and the strollers. Some people have said my kids will be asleep and so I can go and do a walk by myself. So it’s whatever you kind of need for yourself — to be in community, to talk about something that’s bigger than ourselves here in Seguin,” said Leos.
Participants will meet at Suburban Running & Recreation located at the Seguin Schoolyard with check-in beginning at 7:30 a.m. The group photo and walk will follow at 8 a.m. Saturday.
The walk is free, and donations to Rotary International’s Polio Plus program will be accepted on-site. Through a partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, donations will be matched at a rate of $2 for every $1 raised.
Leos says residents who are unable to donate can still make a difference simply by showing up and participating.
“If people aren’t in a position to do that right now, their presence is enough,” said Leos. “So, just come out and be together with us.”
Residents can register through the Seguin Rotary Club website at www.seguinrotary.org by locating the World Polio Walk flyer on the group’s Facebook page. Participants may also contact the Seguin Rotary Club at rotaryclubseguin@gmail.com.
The Seguin Schoolyard is located at 225 N. Saunders St.