6 October 2016 12:00 am Views - 2340
Year 2010 will be remembered for many things. It is also the year where a handful of youth from the Rotaract Club of Colombo Uptown got together and decided to organize, ‘Run for their lives’, which is now the single largest charity run in Sri Lanka. Starting from humble beginnings RFTL has managed to raise and donate medicine & equipment worth of approximately Rs. 10 Million to the National Cancer Hospital in Maharagama in the last 6 years.
The 2015 edition which was held on the 13th of December was largest ever with over 3200 participants which directly helped raise a record breaking Rs. 5,033,533.
There are over 14,000 new patients diagnosed and treated every month at the Cancer Hospital and sadly the hospital barely keeps up. Most medicine and treatments are given free of charge hence funds are always running thin.
On the 1st of July 2016, 63 Celsite Ports and 2 Cardiac Heart Monitors were handed over to Dr. B. I. Kurukulasuriya, the Deputy Director of the National Cancer Institute by the RCCU members. This Medical equipment was purchased out of the donations gathered and filled a much desired need. Many of us have lost a loved one to this plague so our work is never over as we gear up for the 7th edition of RFTL to be held on the 4th of December. We hope to make it an even bigger success. We at Colombo Uptown, would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Chief Oncologist Dr. Balavardhana, staff of the National Cancer Institute, our event sponsors, Rotaractors, event participants, friends, family and all those who supported our cause throughout the various stages of RFTL to make it what it is today.
We look forward to seeing many new faces as well as our long standing supporters once again at RFTL 2016. Get ready for yet another action packed, fun filled Sunday morning all for a great cause.
For more details on how you could join us this year, follow us on Facebook.com/runfortheirlives or contact us through www.rftl.lk.