Rotary Districts 6440 and 6450 in Illinois have been working together since 2000 to help raise funds and awareness in support of Rotary International’s program to eradicate polio from the world. The race is held in June each year. The 8K run and 5K walk (now 5K Run & 5K walk) are in a very beautiful location and for a very worthy cause. Polio used to infect 350,000 people annually in 1985. Since that time, due to the efforts of Rotary International, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and national governments around the world, there are only 4 countries which still have active polio cases. In 2006 there were only 2,001 confirmed cases worldwide and Egypt and Niger were both announced to be no longer polio endemic!

Rotary Race to The Finish was started in 2000 to raise awareness and funds for Rotary International’s global program to eradicate polio. The Race has been held for the last six years and has raised over $350,000.

This year's Race will be held on Sunday, June 10, 2007 running through Evanston, across Northwestern University's campus, and along scenic Lake Michigan.