World Polio Day is observed around the world every year on October 24th and the Rotary Club of Georgetown on Sunday October 27th, 2024 held a World Polio Day walk around Georgetown. The event was among thousands of similar initiatives held by Rotary clubs around the world before, on and after World Polio Day.
The club is dedicated to raising awareness and supporting efforts to eradicate polio worldwide. Members, supporters, and the community gathered early in the morning to participate in the symbolic walk, demonstrating their commitment to fighting this preventable disease. This annual event emphasizes the Rotary Club’s dedication to improving global health and ending polio for good.
This year’s eight annual 5km walk began at 06:45 am at the Georgetown Club on Camp Street, headed South along Camp, East along Church Street, North along Irving Street, West along Lamaha Street and then back to Camp Street, ending at the point of origin.
“Today we joined our fellow Rotarians around the world in further efforts to eradicate polio. Rotary members in Guyana continue to take action against the backdrop of World Polio Day to raise awareness, funds, and support to end polio, a vaccine-preventable disease that still threatens children in parts of the world today,” Natasha Vieira, President of the Rotary Club of Georgetown said.
The walk was followed by a fundraising breakfast where an estimated 150 Rotarians, family members and friends gathered. Donations and funds collected at the event will directly support Rotary’s polio eradication initiatives.
The Rotary Club of Georgetown expressed gratitude to sponsors and volunteers who made the event possible. Events like this showcase the power of local action in contributing to a global mission. Through initiatives like the Polio Walk and Breakfast, the Rotary Club of Georgetown continues to educate, inspire, and lead in the fight against polio.
Rotary has contributed more than US$2 billion to ending polio since 1985, including over US $50,000.00 donated by the Rotary Club of Georgetown over the years. Together these resources have enabled Rotary to immunize over 3 billion children worldwide (Rotary Club of Georgetown press release)
