SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Rotary Club of Sint Maarten-Mid Isle is proud to announce its annual Ramesh Manek End Polio Now Walkathon, taking place this Saturday, October 25th, in honor of World Polio Day observed globally on October 24th.
This year’s walkathon promises to be a vibrant community event, bringing together residents and visitors in a united effort to eradicate polio worldwide. Participants will receive a commemorative End Polio Now T-shirt with their ticket purchase and enjoy a delicious local breakfast following the walk.
Adding to the excitement, the Rotary Club will welcome District 7020 Governor William “Bill” Aiken, who will be visiting St. Maarten, St. Martin, Anguilla, and St. Barths from October 21st to November 1st. Their presence underscores the importance of this global cause and the commitment of Rotary leadership to ending polio.
All proceeds from the walkathon will be donated to PolioPlus, Rotary International’s flagship program aimed at eradicating polio. Thanks to the generous support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, every dollar raised will be tripled, amplifying the impact of each contribution.
Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects children under five. It spreads through person-to-person contact, often via the fecal-oral route, and can lead to irreversible paralysis. Since the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, the world has made remarkable progress—reducing polio cases by over 99.9%. Today, wild poliovirus remains endemic in only two countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan, where challenges such as limited healthcare infrastructure and security concerns persist.
The Rotary Club of Sint Maarten-Mid Isle invites everyone to join this meaningful event and be part of history in the making. Together, we can help ensure that polio becomes a disease of the past.
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
- Time: 6:00 AM, gathering at 5:30 AM
- Location: Tonys Airconditioning in Colebay [Route: Welfare Road, Simpsonbay Bridge, Causeway Bridge, Union Road and back to Tonys Airconditioning
- Tickets Include: End Polio Now T-shirt & Local Breakfast
- Proceeds Benefit: PolioPlus Program
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