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Riders line up at the starting point at Kaunda grounds in Gulu city. Photo by Stephen Odong By Stephen Odong Gulu City More than 90 pedal cyclists from Acholi Sub-region took part in the first-ever Cancer awareness bicycle ride competition organized by Soleter
Riders line up at the starting point at Kaunda grounds in Gulu city. Photo by Stephen Odong
By Stephen Odong
Gulu City
More than 90 pedal cyclists from Acholi Sub-region took part in the first-ever Cancer awareness bicycle ride competition organized by Soleterre foundation, St. Mary`s hospital Lacor, Uganda child cancer foundation, Uganda women`s cancer support organization funded by AFRON Oncology for Africa.
Adian Ssali the country director Soleterre foundation applauded all the people for turning up in good number for this bicycle ride for creating cancer awareness which was the first of its kind in the whole of Acholi subregion. “I appeal to the general public to take cancer screening seriously to help in early detection and possibly early treatment and management,” he remarked.
The director for the bicycle race, Mr. Ssemwanga from Uganda women support organization equally applauded all the participants for coming in such a good number.
Peter Banya, the Deputy Resident City Commission for Laroo-Pece division Gulu City commended all the partners for the good idea of creating cancer awareness through bicycle ride competition.
“This is a good gesture, I encourage everyone who attended this event to be the ambassador to spread the information about cancer to other people who did not manage to attend the event, everyone should know how dangerous cancer is and it is one of the threatening health concerns worldwide,” he stressed.
He also encouraged the general public to make good use of the regional cancer institute in Gulu for doing regular checks because this is a public institution which people should make good use of and is free of charge.
Resty Opwonya, who emerged the winner in 45 km race said this is his first time in the bicycle race although he is a footballer who play for supper eagle football club based in Gulu City.
“I am really very excited with this, you know I love riding bicycle because of the social capital and unity it gives to people through interaction and support for each other, this is a very good initiative for sending messages about cancer, I encourage the other people to take their health as a top priority because cancer is a silent killer, there is need for all of us to always do regular medical checkups to know our health status not only on cancer but also the other diseases like HIV/AIDS among others, in this competition everyone is a winner,” he noted.
The event had over 90 riders registered in different categories that include 5km, 10km and 45km and there were also women’s riders, special categories where they had the oldest woman of 79 years for 5km then the youngest riders in 5km categories where there were also two young boys of 8 and 9 years.
In all the categories of the riders, the prizes were given to the first three finishers in each category and they were also awarded bronze, silver, and gold medals respectively and shopping vouchers of 250,000sh for the winner of 45km, runner`s up 200,000shs and second runner`s up got 50,000shs.
For 10km and 5km winner got vouchers of 100,000shs first runner`s up 30,000shs and second runner`s up 20,000shs respectively which they can use to purchase items of their choices from Cynerbel super market in Gulu City.