05/14/2026
đ Run Wild! Rabies Free Africa 5K
It's truly a small world! Dr. Shawna Chag and colleague Dr. Anastasia MacIntosh both traveled to Tanzania to participate in their Rabies Free Africa's vaccination campaigns. Their experiences were life-changing, and they are fully committed to the initiative in their home clinics and personal endeavors. Coincidentally, they are both part of Mecuria Running, which has groups in Colorado and New Hampshire!
Rabies is a preventable yet deadly disease that still affects thousands of people worldwide, particularly in regions where access to vaccines and education is limited. The statistics underscore just how crucial this work is:
An estimated 60,000 people die from rabies each year
99% of rabies cases are in Africa and Asia
Approximately 50% of rabies victims are children under the age of 16.
Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatalâyet it is 100% preventable through vaccination.
Thanks to programs like Rabies Free Africa, over 2.5 million vaccine doses have been administered, leading to an estimated 750 lives saved and zero human deaths in key vaccination zones.
Both of their hospitals, along with hundreds across the country, continue to donate to RFA every time a rabies vaccine is given to a pet. Dr. McIntosh has worked hard to create another way to contribute to this life saving cause by organizing a virtual 5K to spread awareness locally and across the nation! Proceeds from this virtual 5K will go to Rabies Free Africa. Together, weâre supporting the global goal to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030!
Dr. Chag's running group is going to work the 5k into their normal Saturday long run on May 23rd. If you would rather run with a group, sign up and join the fun with us! We typically meet at South Mill Pond Park in Portsmouth NH at 8 AM on Saturday mornings. Feel free to share the info and invite others to join. on Saturday, May 23, or keep it virtual and run/walk/crawl on your own schedule any time May 22-24!