Run & Walk for a Cause: Every Step Counts to End Polio

In celebration of World Polio Day, the Rotary Club of Makati North (RCMN) and the Rotaract Club of Barangay Sta. Cruz joined hands in leading the Run & Walk for a Cause along the iconic Ayala Avenue on October 26, 2025. The event aimed to raise awareness and strengthen Rotary’s global campaign to End Polio Now — a mission that continues to define Rotary’s legacy of service and compassion.

The early morning air was filled with excitement and energy as participants gathered in their bright red shirts — the color symbolizing hope, courage, and commitment to the cause. Rotarians, Rotaractors, RCC members, and Interactors stood side by side, united by a single goal: to help make polio a disease of the past.

Members of RCMN, the RAC Brgy Sta. Cruz, the Rotary Community Corps (RCC) of Barangay Sta. Cruz, and the Interact Club of Maximo Estrella Senior High School enthusiastically took part in the activity, demonstrating that service knows no age or boundary. It was an inspiring sight — seasoned Rotarians walking and running alongside the youth, proving that collective action can move communities forward.

The event was more than just a fitness activity; it was an embodiment of Rotary’s enduring spirit of purpose, wellness, and fellowship. Through the End Polio Now Awareness Campaign – Run & Walk for a Cause, participants shared laughter, encouragement, and conversations about why this advocacy matters. United as one Rotary family — Rotarians, Rotaractors, RCCs, and Interactors — everyone moved with one mission and one heart. 

Every stride taken that morning carried a deeper meaning: a step of hope, compassion, and determination to create a world where no child will ever again suffer from the crippling effects of polio. The simple act of walking became a powerful symbol — a reminder that progress is built on persistence, and that even small actions can lead to monumental change.

For RCMN and its partners in service, the event also served as an opportunity to strengthen bonds among clubs and rekindle the spirit of volunteerism. The shared sense of joy and camaraderie that morning reflected what Rotary has always stood for: Service Above Self.

This campaign was not just about running or walking — it was about inspiring action, spreading awareness, and standing for a cause that unites us all. It reminded everyone that real change begins when people come together, driven by empathy and purpose.

Indeed, when we move as one, change truly happens. And with every step, Rotary moves the world closer to achieving its dream — a future where polio exists only in history books, and every child can live free from fear. 

Submitted and written by: ED Betty Centeno