The Dixon Rotary Club is preparing to take part in what is being billed as the world’s largest polio walk, bringing together Rotary clubs from across the Sauk Valley and beyond for a shared cause.
Rotary International has been involved in the effort to eradicate polio for 35 years. While tremendous progress has been made, with polio considered nearly 99.9% eradicated, the disease has not yet been completely eliminated.
The walk is designed to keep awareness of polio high while showing support for the final push toward eradication. Rotary clubs across the United States and Canada will participate in walks on the same day, creating a widespread effort centered on one common goal.
A Community-Wide Walk
The local event will take place October 24 at Page Park in Dixon. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. at the park’s band shelter, with the walk scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
Rotary clubs from Rochelle, Rock Falls, Oregon, Walnut, Mendota, and Sterling are expected to join the Dixon Rotary Club for the event.
The walk will cover approximately 2.5 miles and will take participants across Dixon’s new pedestrian bridge and through a wooded portion of the pathway. The entire route is paved, making it accessible for participants who may have mobility concerns.
Participants who want a longer walk can add additional distance, extending the route to approximately three or 3.5 miles.
The event is free and open to the public. Participants are asked to register and sign a waiver for liability purposes, but there is no admission fee.
Organizers are encouraging people to bring their families and friends and enjoy the day while supporting the global effort to eradicate polio.
Supporting Polio Eradication
Although participation in the walk is free, there will be opportunities to make donations to support the cause.
The Dixon Rotary Club is also selling special event T-shirts for $20. A portion of each shirt sale will cover the cost of the shirt, while the remaining funds will benefit the Rotary Foundation and its work toward polio eradication.
Shirt sponsors are also contributing to the effort, with sponsorship dollars going toward the Rotary Foundation’s polio initiative.
T-shirts are available in sizes from small through 5XL. Orders should be placed by October 5 so shirts can be available for participants on the day of the walk.
Those interested in ordering a shirt can contact Mary Oros by email. Shirts can also be ordered through the Chamber office and the Discover Dixon office, where payment can be made.
More Than a Walk
For the local Rotary clubs, the event represents more than an opportunity to raise awareness about polio. It also gives members from different communities a chance to come together, meet one another’s families and friends, and highlight the work Rotary does as an international service organization.
The walk provides an opportunity for participants to learn more about Rotary while supporting a cause that reaches far beyond the Sauk Valley.
Organizers are planning for the event to take place rain or shine. If poor weather makes an outdoor walk impractical, the nearby armory has been secured as an alternate location.
With the event bringing together Rotary clubs throughout the area and participants around the country and Canada walking for the same purpose, the Dixon event is expected to be a meaningful demonstration of community support for the final push toward a world without polio.
The Dixon Rotary Club is encouraging area residents to register, invite friends and family, purchase a T-shirt if they would like, and join the walk on October 24 at Page Park.
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