Alina Masud Memorial Indoor Walkathon powers Rotary’s flagship fight against child malnutrition.The Rotary Club of St. Catharines South is proud to lead a flagship initiative that is saving the lives of children who have no voice and no choice: Trust for Malnutrition and Stunted Growth (TMSG).
Across Pakistan, children under five are arriving at clinics in the most dangerous stage of malnutrition—Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). In these cases, a child’s body is running out of strength to fight infection, to grow, and in many cases, even to survive. The good news is that this is treatable when help reaches in time. With therapeutic foods and essential micronutrients, children can recover and return to normal life.
Through consistent, evidence-based treatment and a growing clinic network—78,000 children have been revived and brought back to health. But the crisis is still overwhelming. Funding remains the only hindrance. As we often say: when we reach one child, ten are missed—not because the solution isn’t known, but because resources don’t reach far enough.
Turning grief into a legacy of service: On January 24, our community came together for the 1st Alina Masud Memorial Indoor Walkathon at Canada Games Park (Brock University).
Alina Masud was an 18-year-old Brock University student with roots in Pakistan. She had the kind of life ahead of her that makes a community hopeful—education, dreams, friendships, and the quiet confidence of a young person still becoming who she will be. Then, in an instant, everything changed. Alina was taken from her family and her community in a tragic car accident on Highway 406.
It became one of the most heartfelt and successful events our club has ever experienced.
Despite the bitter cold outside, participants walked into a warm, welcoming venue and created an atmosphere filled with love, humility, and genuine “Service Above Self.” Families arrived together. Friends brought friends. Volunteers stepped forward quietly and consistently — doing what Rotarians do best: showing up with compassion and purpose.
The event was honored by strong community support, including attendance from local leaders: Thorold Mayor Terry Ugulini, St. Catharines Mayor Matt Sisco, and councilors who stood in solidarity with our cause and our community.
Most moving of all was the spirit of remembrance and commitment. In loving memory of Alina Masud — our community daughter — participants didn’t only walk for a moment; they embraced a mission. When asked whether they would join again next January, every participant raised their hand — a powerful promise that Alina’s legacy will continue as an annual tradition of service.
A two-hour event that will save 150 children
In just two hours, the walkathon raised enough funds to fully treat 150 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
That number is not symbolic. It is medical, real, and measurable.
For a child in SAM, full treatment typically means two therapeutic meals a day for approximately three months, along with monitoring and follow-ups, until the child stabilizes, gains healthy weight and strength, and safely returns to normal food. This is the difference between a downward spiral and a second chance at life.
Those 150 children will never know who braved the cold.
They will never know the parking lot was full.
They will only know the outcome: they survived, they recovered, and they got a second chance.
A call to Rotarians and Rotary clubs
TMSG is already making impact, but the next chapter requires a larger Rotary family.
We are inviting more Rotarians, Rotary clubs, and Rotary districts to join this flagship effort—not as spectators, but as partners. Child malnutrition is one of the most urgent, most solvable crises of our time. The model works. The outcomes are proven. What’s needed now is the strength of Rotary to scale it.
Any club or district can participate in our Rotary Global Grant—through cash and/or DDF—to help add 45 new clinics in South Punjab, Pakistan:
Global Grant: GG2580381 — Ending Malnutrition in South Punjab Pakistan
When more clubs join, we can:
expand clinic adoption and treatment reach,
prevent children from falling into the most dangerous stage,
and reduce the painful reality that we help one child while ten are missed.
If your club is looking for a high-impact, life-saving initiative with measurable results and powerful stories of recovery, TMSG is ready to work with you.
Let’s turn compassion into continuity. Let’s make Alina’s legacy a lasting force for good.
John Teibert
President: Rotary Club of St. Catharines South
Flagship Project: Trust for Malnutrition and Stunted Growth (TMSG)