By Isaac Akugizibwe,
National
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has partnered with Rotary Districts 9213 and 9214 to widen the scale of this year’s Rotary cancer run, which has been dubbed “Run for Hope” and aims to collect up to Sh2b.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ commitment aims to increase cancer awareness among Ugandans abroad and those living within Uganda’s borders. The event will take place on 27th August 2023 at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, as well as in major towns across the world.
The registration fee is Sh30,000, with the funds being used to construct bunkers (radiotherapy centres) and associated spaces. The Rotary Cancer Run has raised Sh4.36b since its inception, with Sh1.3billion raised in 2022 being the highest amount raised in a singular calendar year.
Ambassadors accredited to Uganda have been urged to engage in the campaign against cancer and to participate in the Rotary Cancer Run.
According to Past district governor Rotarian Mike Sebalu who represented the Rotary Cancer run organising committee at the ministry of foreign affairs,the amount collected through the cancer Run on an annual basis has had a significantly increased from Sh133.9m in 2020 to Sh375m in 2021 and that the 2022 edition of this run raised an impressive Sh1.3billion which is so far the highest amount fundraised in a singular calendar year.
“The entry point for the rotary in this very activity, that brings us here this morning is disease prevention and treatment,” Sebalu noted.
Sebalu added that,” the Sh200m from the 2015 Rotary Cancer Run constructed the Rotary Blood Bank at Mengo Hospital. Funds raised from the runs between 2016 to 2021 were used for phase 1A of the construction of the radiotherapy centers (bunkers).”
“The remaining money from the above runs has rotationally been used to purchase kits for recurrent runs.”
“And doing good in the world is through the life-changing and impactful projects that are undertaken by clubs individually and districts collectively,” he emphasized.
He said: “The cancer run is one of those very life changing and impactful projects that is being handled at a bigger scale of the country that comprises 2 districts.”
Sebalu also confirmed that this year’s event will take place on Sun 27th Augusts 2023 with Kololo Ceremonial Grounds as the venue. It will also play out in all major towns across the country and around the globe.
Ambassador Philip Ochen Odida, the deputy permanent representative of Uganda to the United Nations in New York pledged to engage all the missions accredited to Uganda to be part of the Rotary Cancer Run towards the campaign against cancer.
The registration fee is Sh30,000 and it comes with a sports kit and the fundraising aims to go towards the construction of bunkers (radiotherapy centres) and associated spaces.
