Rotary Guernsey’s Walk a Mile to End Polio

One mile. One goal. A world without polio.

Rotary Guernsey is inviting islanders to put their best foot forward on Saturday 31 October, joining a friendly one-mile walk through Saumarez Park in support of the worldwide campaign to eradicate polio.

The Walk a Mile to End Polio Now, originally planned for World Polio Day on 24 October, has been postponed by one week because of the weather.

The walk will now start at 10.30am outside Saumarez Park Café on Saturday 31 October, following a circular route along the park’s pathways before finishing back at the café.

Everyone is welcome to take part, including families, friends and four-legged companions on leads. Participants are encouraged to wear something red or purple for a colourful group photograph. There is no registration or entry fee, although donations to Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign will be warmly welcomed.

Polio is a highly infectious disease that can cause permanent paralysis and even death. Since the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, worldwide cases have fallen by more than 99.9%, from an estimated 350,000 annually in 125 countries to just 52 cases of wild poliovirus reported in 2025. Today, Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only two countries where wild poliovirus is endemic.

Despite this extraordinary progress, continued vaccination campaigns and international commitment are essential to ensure that polio is eradicated for good.

Jane, President of Rotary Guernsey, said: “Most of us in Guernsey are fortunate to live without the fear of polio, but children in some parts of the world still face this devastating disease.

“We’ve come so far towards eradicating polio, and we mustn’t stop before the job is done. Our walk is a simple way for islanders to come together, enjoy some fresh air and show their support for a polio-free world.

“We were disappointed not to be able to hold the walk on World Polio Day itself, but we hope families, friends and people of all ages will join us a week later on 31 Octover. Just one mile of your time can help make a world of difference.”