Rotarians step up campaign to raise funds in the fight against cancer

The president of the Rotary e-club of Uganda-Global Patricia Nantaba Ssembatya has called on their members and all Ugandans to join forces in the fight against cancer by participating in this year’s Rotary Cancer Run.

Nantaba was speaking to journalists after activation for the run, due August 27, starting at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds; at Lubowa along Entebbe Road, on Sunday.

A group of about ten Rotarians participated in a 5km walk starting at Lubowa through the neighborhood of Lweza, to continue creating awareness about cancer and to rally people to join the main run, from which they hope to raise sh2b this year.

“Many of us have friends, family members, relatives suffering from cancer but we also want to show people that together we can beat cancer through this run,” Nantaba said.

“During the event, many people will come together and raise money which will be channeled towards the completion of the Rotary Cancer unit at St. Francis Hospital Nsambya.

“So we urge all people wherever they are; the Rotary e-Club members all over the globe in the UK, USA, Asia, to please mobilise your friends and family to run on that day. We have to beat cancer and we are proud to be Rotarians; let us create hope in the world by fighting against cancer,” Nantaba stated.

The walk was also attended by among others the Past District Governor and Chairman of the Rotary Cancer Program Stephen Mwanje who said the runs were the main fundraising vehicle that supports the Uganda Rotary Cancer Program.

He said the program pits Rotarians together in the fight against cancer. He said the program has four main pillars; creating awareness, screening, and infrastructure; through which they have built the Rotary-Centenary Bank Cancer Ward at Nsambya Hospital, and taking action.

He said this year’s run targets 50,000 runners from whom they hope to raise money to buy Linear Accelerators. He encouraged people in and out of the country to participate in the run.

“Cancer can hit anyone regardless of their status, so Rotarians being people of action we can’t be lamenting but take action because the infection rate is growing each year, making it a top killer in the country, so if we don’t take action cancer will finish us,” Mwanje stated.

“Our main objective is to register as many runners as possible through our e-platform from the different communities in Uganda for this cause,” Yvonne Katamba, the head of this year’s run, added.

She reasoned that by the end of the run more awareness about testing, and treatment would have been created.

Runners can access the running kit upon payment of sh30,000/- each at Centenary Bank branches countrywide and or by registering electronically through: https://tickets.ugandarotarycancer.org.

The event is sponsored by Centenary Bank, New Vision, Crystal Water, Unilever, the Parliament of Uganda, MAAD Advertising, and Events Warehouse.