The Walking Rotarians came to know of the call to Rotarians to raise fund for a worthy cause - BCH/CUDF (Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital 'Cancer Upachar Daan Fund'). A challenging fund raising Walkathon crossing through the cities of Kathmandu, Patan, Thimi to Bhaktapur; and from Dhulikhel, Banepa to Bhaktapur at the same day and time. This 'Rotary Recreational Fellowship" would be organized each year for a worthy cause. And 2004 it was also to "Celebrate Rotary" since this is a centennial year in Rotary. Rotarians and many other citizens from Nepal and abroad participated to the 'Rotary Walkathon' on 25th of September 2004 to help for a noble cause of helping the treatment of destitute cancer patients in the country.

The Cause

It is through the joint efforts of five Rotary clubs (RC Kathmandu, RC Kathmandu Midtown, RC Kathmandu North, Rc Patan, and RC Patan West) in Nepal and RC Mansfield in the UK that helped the Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital expand its services from a cancer surgery unit to a full-fledged cancer hospital. The radiotherapy unit was added in 1999 through the financial assistance of Rotary International 3H grant of about Rs 30 million. The hospital is currently offering the services at a comparatively low rate so that they could be accessible to economically deprived section of the community.

A large number of poor and destitute people, some 70% of the patients needing the treatment consigned themselves to fate as they could not afford even a meager fee of Rs 5,000 for radiotherapy. On the other hand, the annual capacity of the equipment to treat 1,000 patients has not been fully utilized as about 400 patients only receive treatment in a year. The equipment has a life of not more than 10 years irrespective of the number of patients treated. If the poor people who cannot really afford the fee of Rs 5,000 could be supported, their lives could be saved and it could help the Hospital to some extent to face the serious question of sustainability. Thus, the idea to establish a fund was conceived.

The Fund

BCH/CUDF is an endowment fund with an aim to collect Rs. 1 crore (Ten Million Nepali Rupees) so that the income there from could be utilized to support poor cancer patients who are not financially able to bear the medical cost of radiotherapy. The fund has already received an amount of Rs. 1.2 million and commitment for another Rs. 800,000 from Rotary Club of Mansfield, with the efforts of Past President Rtn. Dr. Bibek Pradhan.

For the proper use of the fund, an 11-member committee consisting of Rotarians from various clubs has been formed. The fund has a bank account at Nepal Credit and Commerce Bank, Bagbazar with the account number 03 0000104846. The purpose of this fund is to provide free Radiotherapy treatment for 200 destitute cancer patients each year from the interest and seed money of the fund.

Patients who are financially weak and unable to pay for the treatment apply for the grant from CUDF. The CUDF committee has formulated criteria for considering the application, which include the recommendation of the charity sub-committee of BCH.

The grand success of Walkathon

To the surprise of many, thousands (more than 10.000 aprox.) of people participated to the Walkathon 2004 initiative. Soon we publish here immages and report.

NOT JET OPEN
Pre-register yourself here online to the Rotary Walkathon 2005 and reserve yourself for 2005 edition too!