The Rotary Club of Macau said in a statement yesterday that eight local rotary clubs will enhance fundraising efforts to end polio by holding a “public-facing” morning charity run and walk, as well as the “World’s Greatest Meal to Help End Polio” (WGM) charity dinner on Saturday.
Commonly known as the poliovirus, the statement noted that polio is spread from person-to-person, typically through contaminated water. The statement said that it can attack the nervous system and lead to paralysis in some cases.
The event is jointly organised by the Rotary Club of Macau, Rotary Club of Hou Kuong, Rotary Club of Macau Central, Rotary Club of Guia, Rotary Club of Macau Islands, Rotary Club of Amizade, Macau, Rotary Club of Penha, Macao; and Rotary Club of Oriental Pearl Macau, the statement underlined.
The annual fundraiser, according to the statement, will start with the Macau Wind Runners’ Group’s co-organised charity walk & run at Hac Sa Reservoir Nature Park between 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The run covers around eight kilometres, while the walk covers three kilometres.
Rotary Club of Hou Kuong President William Tang (鄧偉邦), who chairs this year’s End Polio Now Campaign Organising Committee, was quoted by the statement as saying that members of the public have responded well to the event and that over 300 registrations have been received for the charity walk and run.
“We are happy to see the public joining Rotarians in this meaningful inclusive event. This is exactly what we were hoping to achieve”, Tang said, adding that the End Polio Fund is a long-running cause championed by Rotarians everywhere. “To eradicate it from the world requires more public awareness and involvement beyond Rotarians,” he underlined.
Meanwhile, the evening fundraising programme is a Halloween themed charity dinner at Tromba Rija in the Macau Tower.
Rotary Club of Macau President Li Ying said in the statement that their club has been holding the event on its own for years, but has invited the seven other local Rotary Clubs to join since last year, adding that “half of the meal fee goes to the End Polio Fund while our Rotarians and their families and friends enjoy a great meal together with creativity and fellowship”.
This undated handout photo provided by the Rotary Club of Macau yesterday shows a child getting his oral polio vaccine (OPV).
