Wokorach urges fight against cancer

The captain of the Rugby Sevens national team, Michael Wokorach has called upon fellow Ugandans to embrace noble causes such as the Rotary Cancer Run as they contribute to the health sector.

“Cancer being a deadly disease, we all ought to give a hand where needed in saving the lives of those with the disease,” Wokorach said.

The athlete was part of an estimated 40,000 people who took part in the 11th edition of the run at Kololo Independence grounds. Over 62,000 tickets were sold countrywide.

Participants took part in the run in three different categories namely 21 km,10km, and 5km, and the startling was at the Kololo independence grounds as well as the finish line.

Wokorach who took part in the 10km compelled the youth and elderly to keep healthy by exercising regularly.

“Constant workout and keeping fit are an important aspect in the lives of the youth especially those in sports,” Wokorach said.

He pointed out how the run helped him ahead of the World Cup that commences off this week in Cape town, South Africa.

“As a leader, I have come through to assess my fitness levels and I hit my target of 10km as I prepare for the Sevens World Cup this week,” he said

The president of the Association of Uganda University Sports (AUUS) Peninah Kabenge also highlighted the need for university students to take part in the run.

“I believe most of the students in university at least have a person with cancer in the family meaning they ought to support the initiative,” she said

Rotary International president and the first ever women president of Rotary, Jennifer Jones advised Ugandans to go for cancer check-ups to know their status.

“Once you check for cancer and discover you have it at an early stage, it can be treated,” stressed Jones who lost her breasts to cancer.

The run is aimed at raising funds to build a bunker that will house the linear accelerator machines used in the treatment of cancer at Nsambya hospital to help in the treatment of cancer patients in the region as Managing director of centenary bank Fabian Kasi reckoned.

“As Centenary Bank, we have invested over sh2b hoping to set up the biggest cancer treatment centre in East Africa. We are very sure that it will come to reality,” Kasi noted.

People from all walks of life, and different age categories took part in the run not forgetting the physical and capped as a few were seen in the wheelchairs taking part in the run.