Rotary is an international service organization whose purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. In Gulu, there are two Rotary and Rotaract Clubs; Rotary Club of Gulu, Rotary Club of Gulu City, Rotaract Club of Gulu University and Rotaract Club of Gulu Community who subscribe to the motto of Rotary International which is Service Above Self!
In 2012, the Rotary Uganda Cancer Programme was establised with the then District Governor, Stephen Mwanje as the vision bearer. The Rotary Uganda Cancer Program embarked on what then seemed an ambitious project to build a cancer ward that would provide specialist treatment for cancer patients at Nsambya Hospital. To date, with support from partners, proceeds from the Cancer run have facilitated the construction of a 36-bed cancer treatment center in Nsambya Hospital worth 1.5billion, fitted the center with equipment worth 588m, staff training and construction of a Blood Bank worth 200m at Mengo Hospital.
From 2016, the funds from the runs have been channeled towards building two bunkers and procuring two Linear Accelerators worth Ugx 11.8 billion. To date, Ugx 2.1 billion has so far been raised. Construction of the bankers have already begun.
This year the Cancer Run will be physically flagged off by the Rotary International President, Dr. Jennifer Jones on 4th September 2022 at Kololo Airstrip. All major cities and districts in Uganda will participate in the Run on the same day and time to continue raising awareness about cancer and funds for the cancer treatment center at Nsambya Hospital. This will continue every year until the dream is realised.
In Gulu the Run will take be flagged off from Kaunda Grounds starting at 6:30am. Support the course by buying your ticket which comes with a running vest at only 25,000/-. These can be got from Las Ice Cream shop on Labwor road, Cynibel Supermarket, Centenary bank main branch, and Rock of Ages Gym on Phillip Turner Road in Pece.
The major national partners for the Rotary Cancer Run have been The Parliament of Uganda, Centenary Bank, IMC-Icare, New Vision, Rwenzori bottling Company, Simba Telecom, to mention but a few. In Gulu we have local business partners such as Las Ice Cream, Flama Uganda, IMC-Gulu, Housing Finance Bank and Lacor Hospital who have come out to rally behind the clubs in Gulu and make the Run a success.
