WESTFIELD — Lace up your running or walking sneakers to support the Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville’s “Pace Against Polio” fun 5k race on Saturday in Westfield. All net proceeds from this charity race will be donated to Rotary International’s PolioPlus program to aid in the fight to end polio.

It’s not too late to register for this fun race for a good cause. Contact Adele Harrington, 581-0265 or adeleharrington70@yahoo.com.

Registration begins at Welch Field (between Elm and Union streets) in Westfield at 8 a.m. The registration fee on race day is $25. All participants will get “goodie bags” containing an assortment of items, and prizes will be awarded to the top male and female race finishers.

Polio is a disease that kills and cripples, primarily children. It was a scourge in our country until the late 1950’s. In 1955, the Salk vaccine became available, and in 1963, the Sabin oral vaccine began to be used. Since 1979, there have not been any polio cases in the U.S., though the polio virus is still endemic in a few countries in the world. In our highly mobile global society, it could easily return to our nation. In 2015, which is the latest year for which data is available, there were 74 active cases of polio worldwide. The Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville has joined forces with Rotary International to raise funds in support of the goal to immunize all of the world’s children against polio. This Rotary Club’s campaign is called “PolioPlus Challenge.” Its first event is this Nov. 26 “Pace Against Polio” charity 5k.

Supporting this event are the following $100 “Patriots Against Polio” sponsors: FairPoint Communications – Community First; Janet Greene, “Chautauqua Sunrise” with Doc Hamels; Westfield Women of the Moose #517; Mark Forbes; FairPoint Communications; Pinehurst Golf Club, Tracy S. Bennett, CPA; and The Parkview. At the $50 “Patrons Against Polio” sponsor level is Dan Young, Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

The Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville thanks all of these sponsors, as well as all of the registered race participants to date. Let’s “End Polio Now!”