END POLIO RUN LEG 1: ROAD TO TRAIL

Under the early morning skies and through rain soaked trails, hundreds of trail running enthusiasts from across Mindanao gathered for a single purpose to help end polio. The End Polio Trail Run, organized by the Rotary Club of Tagum North, proved not only to be a test of endurance and passion but also a powerful movement of hope and solidarity.

Despite the heavy downpour in the early hours, runners started arriving at the Botanical Park as early as 2:00 a.m. Spirits were high even as the rain poured relentlessly. But in a twist that many described as symbolic, the skies cleared just as the gun went off at 4:30 a.m., signaling the start of the run.

Runners from Across Mindanao

Participants included trail runners from Butuan City, Digos City, Davao City, Davao de Oro, and Tagum City, proving the event’s strong regional draw. Their camaraderie and shared goal reflected the Rotary’s enduring message of service above self.

Each runner pushed through their respective categories with determination, undeterred by the muddy terrain and unpredictable weather. The event drew coverage from SMNI News, helping amplify Rotary’s message to a broader audience.

A Cause Beyond the Finish Line

The End Polio Trail Run is part of Rotary’s ongoing global campaign to eradicate polio a crippling and potentially deadly disease that still threatens children in a few remaining countries. Funds raised through this event will go toward Rotary’s PolioPlus program, the flagship initiative of The Rotary Foundation.

Launched in 1985, PolioPlus was the first and largest internationally coordinated private-sector support of a public health initiative. Rotary’s commitment has since mobilized billions of dollars and countless volunteer hours to deliver vaccines, strengthen health systems, and spread awareness.

Thanks to Rotary and its partners  including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation over 2.5 billion children have been immunized against polio. Today, wild poliovirus remains endemic in only a few areas of the world, bringing humanity closer than ever to complete eradication.

Three-Legged Journey for a Polio-Free Future

The Tagum event marks the first leg of a three-part End Polio Trail Run Series, a regional campaign designed to build awareness and raise continuous support for polio eradication.

First Leg: Tagum City , Davao del Norte successfully held with hundreds of participants.

Second Leg: Pantukan, Davao de Oro  scheduled for December.

Third & Final Leg: Compostela, Davao de Oro coming this March 2026

Each leg symbolizes persistence and the long but rewarding road toward a world free from polio.

Rotary’s Vision: A World Without Polio

Rotary International envisions a world where no child suffers from a preventable disease like polio. Through its End Polio Now campaign, Rotarians continue to advocate, raise funds, and volunteer in vaccination drives, even in hard-to-reach communities.

As the runners crossed the finish line, drenched in sweat but smiling with pride, one thing was clear  this wasn’t just a race against time or terrain. It was a race against a disease that has no place in the future of our children.

The End Polio Trail Run wasn’t only a celebration of endurance and unity  it was a reaffirmation of Rotary’s unyielding commitment to make the world polio-free, one step, one runner, and one community at a time.

Written by: Arnold M. Nicolas