Over 500 runners turned up for the 2nd edition of the Needy Cancer Health Initiative (NCHI) charity run held on Saturday at the Hub Karen.
Multiple World Paralympic record holder Henry Wanyoike was among the participants as he used it in his preparation for the Berlin Marathon set for September this year.
“This is something if you’re not affected, you’re infected in one way or another. So we all need to join hands together to see how we can be able to eradicate, this cancer, which has been a big it’s a big elephant in the house. We all need to we need all need one another.” said Wanyoike
Sponsored to a tune of Ksh 1.5 million by 22Bet through its THX 22 Foundation, the run will be organised annually .
“Sport is very big in Kenya. So we would like to even introduce things like football whereby we would be engaging the youth also to come and participate in needy cancer health initiative football matches and call on fundraisers and well wishers to come for such activities.” Said Joash Ajuog, General Manager 22Bet Kenya.
The runners competed in the 25km, 10km, and 5km categories of the race whose proceeds will go towards providing financial assistance, access to medication, nutritional support, and safe housing for low-income and rural patients facing stigma, displacement, and treatment challenges.
“It’s a noble cause. We want to stand with the survivors, the fighters, guys who are going through the treatment. It’s not easy. It requires support from the entire community because there are many things in the background that we looked at that NCHI is trying to cover, and they can’t do it alone. It requires support from each and every member of the society.” Stated Gacheri Mwenda, CEO NCHI
The organisers are planning to conduct the run annually with a long-term vision of establishing a cancer hospital in Meru County.
