KAMPALA – Over 1,500 people on Saturday participated in the five-kilometre cancer run in Mbarara Town to create awareness about cancer among children and raise funds for treating the patients.
The run was organised by Global Health Collaborative (Uganda) in collaboration Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital (in the United States) and Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST).
At least Shs109m was raised by the participants and donors. Dr Howard Weinstein, Chief Pediatric Oncologist Massachusetts General Hospital who represented the institution, brought a contribution of $20,000 (about Shs 74 million) from the donors.
The money will be used to buy cancer medicines, care for children receiving cancer treatment and support the staff this year. The children cancer clinic at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) is registering the overwhelming number of children suffering from cancer.
Currently, 165 patients being managed at the clinic. The pediatric cancer ward was established in 2017 under Mbarara Regional Cancer Centre as an intervention to the challenge of cancer.
The centre also has specialized treatment for adults and women.
Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga early this month launched the eighth edition of the Rotary Cancer Run at the event held at Rotary-Centenary Bank Cancer centre at Nsambya Hospital.
This year’s run will be held on Sunday, 25 August at Kololo Independence grounds and in 40 other towns across the country.
The Managing Director of Centenary Bank, Fabian Kasi, also pledged to continue the support towards the Cancer Run. “As Centenary Bank, we acknowledge the relationship we have had with Rotary Uganda for the last eight years. This year, we shall contribute UGX165 million and we believe this will go a long way in helping with the organisation of this year’s run,” he said.
