Kampala– The 11th edition of the Rotary Cancer Run happened at the Kololo Independence grounds on Sunday.
The run is an annual event organized since 2012 by Rotarians to bridge the gap in the fight against the cancer scourge by building a one stop cancer screening and treatment centre at Nsambya Hospital, Kampala.
This year’s run was the first physical event after a two-year break caused by the COVID pandemic. According to the organizers, about 40,000 runners participated in the run.
Several Ugandans in Diaspora participated in the run through Uganda’s Missions abroad following a call by Foreign Affairs Minister Gen. Abubakar Jeje Odongo.
The Uganda High Commission New Delhi was among those that led a group of Ugandan Diaspora to take part in the run in New Delhi- India.
In her address, Amb Margaret Lucy Kyogire, Deputy Head of Mission New Delhi thanked the Diaspora for participating in the Run. She further reiterated that the High Commission stands in solidarity with this Initiative.
The Deputy Head of Mission drew their attention to the severity of Cancer in its final stages and encouraged them to go for periodic medical examinations owing to the fact that Cancer can be detected, treated and managed before it advances to its deadly stages.
The Ugandan community conveyed a message of gratitude to the staff of the High Commission for inviting them to participate in the Cancer run and pledged to continue supporting this noble cause.
The Embassy of the Republic of Uganda in Khartoum was also joined by Ugandans diaspora in the Sudan and well wishers in this year’s cancer run. Majority of the Diaspora participated on Saturday 3rd while a few joined on Sunday 4th, being a normal working day in the Sudan.
The event was followed by an address by Charge d’Affaires (CDA) Dickson Ogwang and the exercise sponsored by the Mission.
He noted that this was the first time Uganda Mission Khartoum is taking part in the Cancer Run with the mandate of MOFA Administration and encouraged Participants to make it an annual routine as they commit themselves in mobilizing the world about cancer and raising funds for the cause.
Ogwang noted that “While we run we remember colleagues long taken to glory by cancer, raise funds to care for cancer patients and seek necessary support to lighten the burden of struggling with cancer. We should be careful with our lifestyle in order to avoid and minimize the chances of being affected by Cancer and other Non Communicable Diseases.”
He encouraged participants to exercise regularly, mind their diet and ensure frequent medical checkups as a personal discipline. Ogwang stressed that annual general medical should be embraced.
The CDA appreciated the positive turn up and the mobilization done following instructions from MOFA HQ through Minister Gen. Abubakar Jeje Odongo to mobilize Ugandans in the Diaspora to participate and support this noble cause.
In attendance were Members of Staff and Ugandan Diaspora who unanimously committed to a regular joint exercise to improve physical fitness and social cohesion among members. This according to CDA is to be a monthly joint physical exercise under the auspices of the Mission.
Other Ugandans in Bujumbura, Kigali, Dubai, Dar es Salaam, Beijing, Sudan, Nigeria, Libya, and Mombasa, participated in the run.
