Crown Beverages Limited, through its flagship brand Pepsi, has increased its sponsorship of the 2013 Rotary Cancer Run to Shs140 million up from Shs80 million first announced in June.
Commenting on the sponsorship today, Innocent Tibayeita, the head of sales and marketing Crown Beverages, said the funds will be used for the provision of running kits, additional refreshments for the participants in the Cancer Run, media and PR support for the event.
The 2013 Rotary Cancer Run will be held on August 25 at Kololo Independence Grounds, Kampala and is expected to attract at least 20,000 participants.
The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has been confirmed as the chief runner at the second Annual Rotary Cancer Run.
The announcement was made last week by the Chair Uganda Rotary Cancer Programme, Past District Governor Steven Mwanje.
Kadaga is one of the many high profile personalities who have registered to participate in the Cancer Run, dubbed Run against Cancer.
Other prominent personalities are Bank of Uganda Governor Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, who also launched the second edition of the Cancer run, golfers Flavia Namakula and Deo Akope and the Uganda Cranes led by coach Milutin Sredojevic.
The Cancer Run is an initiative of Rotarians in Uganda, who to further demonstrate their commitment to serving the community, have partnered with Centenary Bank, Pepsi, and Uganda Sports Press Association to organise the second Cancer Run.
The run is meant to raise funds for the construction of the second phase of the Cancer Ward at St. Raphael of St. Francis Hospital, Nsambya – Kampala, Uganda.
The 32-bed capacity ward is estimated to cost shs1.1 billion and will help to supplement the current limited facilities in the country, in prevention and treatment of cancers.
According to Mwanje, so far more than Shs600m has been raised for the completion of the Rotary- Centenary Bank Cancer Ward including; roofing and internal finishes of the ward.
Mr Tibayeita added, “Pepsi is proud to be part of an initiative that will go a long way in ensuring that more Ugandans live a cancer free life, while those who are already suffering from the illness get the best medical treatment locally.”
Last year, as Uganda Celebrated 50 years of Independence Pepsi committed shs50 million towards the construction of the Cancer Ward after holding a successful golf tournament.