Mall walkers already know the building is at its best before the stores open. On Saturday, Oct. 24, the early crowd gets a purpose: Rotary District 5950 is holding a Rotary Walk for Polio at Mall of America to mark World Polio Day. People gather in Macy's Court, and the event runs from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Doors open at 7:30 a.m. and the program starts at 8 a.m., organizers said. The district calls it the World's Largest Polio Walk. It's one of many Rotary walks held around the world that day to raise awareness of the push to wipe out polio, and people of all ages are welcome. If you can't get to the mall, you can register and walk wherever you are, whether that's your neighborhood, a park or a treadmill.
"This is an opportunity for people across our community to come together, raise awareness and celebrate how far we've come," said Tim Mulcrone, polio eradication chair for District 5950.
The cost is up to you. A basic ticket is free, and so is registering to walk somewhere else. A $25 ticket includes a donation to Rotary International's END POLIO NOW fund. You can also add a red unisex T-shirt with the event logo and polio vaccine drop artwork for $18, in sizes small through XXL. Individuals and groups can both sign up on the district's registration page.
Some background on the cause: polio is a contagious virus that can cause permanent paralysis or death. There's no cure, but a vaccine prevents it. Rotary says cases have dropped by more than 99.9%, and wild polio is now endemic only in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
If you're making a morning of it, the mall has a busy Saturday ahead. John Legend signs copies of his new album 'Muse' there the same day.
