AROUND 300 people of all ages laced up for a lively community fun run in Mentakab, Pahang, turning SJK (C) Mentakab’s field into a sea of colour and energy.
The participants gathered for the event aimed at raising awareness on the fight against polio.
The theme “Together, we can end polio forever” set the tone for a morning built around solidarity and shared purpose.
Organised by Rotary Club of Temerloh, the event formed part of the club’s community outreach efforts.
The strong turnout delighted club president Soh Chia Yeong, who said the run was a timely reminder that polio, though preventable, remained a threat if vigilance slips.
“Polio has no cure, but it can be stopped with vaccines.
“We want the public to stay alert to infectious diseases and understand that prevention is still our strongest defence,” he said.
The club, he said, also hoped to raise funds to support treatment and vaccination efforts for underserved communities, particularly those in remote Orang Asli villages.
Club vice‑president Datuk Hiang A Li encouraged Malaysians to embrace healthier lifestyles, stressing that good nutrition and regular exercise remained essential to long‑term well-being.
He said the Rotary Club would continue organising blood donation drives, fundraising campaigns and health‑focused activities to support vulnerable groups.
Hiang added that public awareness remained a crucial part of the global push to eliminate polio by 2030.
“The more people understand diseases, the better equipped they are to share knowledge and help prevent their spread,” he said.
Although wild poliovirus has been largely eradicated worldwide, it remains endemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Rotary District 3300’s End Polio Committee chairman Dr Chua Keng Soon reminded attendees that the disease once affected hundreds of thousands of children each year.
“Children are especially vulnerable, so we cannot be complacent.
“Prevention is always better than cure,” he said.
Also present were Temerloh MCA chairman and Pahang appointed state assemblyman Datuk Henry Wong Tat Chee, Rotary International District 3300 governor Edward Khoo and event organising chairman Chua Say Hand, as well as members of Temerloh Hash House Harriers and SMJK Hwa Lian St John Club and Interact Club.
The morning wrapped up with a shared sense of purpose, a reminder that community action, even in the form of a simple fun run, can help keep a global health mission moving forward.
