Safaricom Gives Kshs.5million for Mater Heart Run

April 18, 2013…Leading Integrated communications service provider, Safaricom has zero rated the contributions being made through M-PESA to the 2013 Mater Heart Run that is scheduled for May 25th. 

Chief Executive Officer Bob Collymore said this will follow the model adopted for the Kenyans-4-Kenya initiative, in which well-wishers were not charged for their contributions made to help those affected by the drought in July 2011. 

"Heart ailments are perhaps the most expensive to treat, and in the current social economic conditions there are many families that find themselves in a helpless position. That is why we have taken this decision to ensure that more children get treated for heart conditions", Collymore explained. 

Speaking at the cheque handover ceremony he added, "We are proud of the impact that this initiative has had in giving sick children a longer lease of life and giving their families much needed financial relief. We are therefore making a contribution of Shs. 5 million to this worthy course. This is our 6th consecutive year as a partner in this initiative." 

The Mater Heart Run which is now in its 19th year is set to benefit at least 250 Children suffering from various heart ailments. Organisers have announced that they target to raise Kshs.100 million through the 10km run with funds raised being used to perform open heart surgeries on children mainly drawn from needy backgrounds. 

Last year's event raised Kshs.41million which funded medical treatment for 216 children while a further 10,500 benefitted from free rheumatic heart disease in a screening exercise carried out across the country 

The Mater Hospital CEO, Dr. John Muriithi speaking at the event said, "We focus on treating children from poor households who suffer from ailments such as congenital heart defects and rheumatic heart valve disease. Many of them are forced to endure great discomfort and pain throughout their lives because the costs for corrective surgery usually vary between Kshs.500,000 and Kshs.2 million and are therefore completely unaffordable." 

The Mater Heart Run also aims to educate communities on the need to treat sore throats for children especially those between the ages of 0 and 5 years because they are a major sign of heart disease. Rheumatic heart disease is acquired through a persistent but neglected sore throat and parents are encouraged to ensure seek medical treatment for their children. 

April 18, 2013…Leading Integrated communications service provider, Safaricom has zero rated the contributions being made through M-PESA to the 2013 Mater Heart Run that is scheduled for May 25th. 

Chief Executive Officer Bob Collymore said this will follow the model adopted for the Kenyans-4-Kenya initiative, in which well-wishers were not charged for their contributions made to help those affected by the drought in July 2011. 

"Heart ailments are perhaps the most expensive to treat, and in the current social economic conditions there are many families that find themselves in a helpless position. That is why we have taken this decision to ensure that more children get treated for heart conditions", Collymore explained. 

Speaking at the cheque handover ceremony he added, "We are proud of the impact that this initiative has had in giving sick children a longer lease of life and giving their families much needed financial relief. We are therefore making a contribution of Shs. 5 million to this worthy course. This is our 6th consecutive year as a partner in this initiative." 

The Mater Heart Run which is now in its 19th year is set to benefit at least 250 Children suffering from various heart ailments. Organisers have announced that they target to raise Kshs.100 million through the 10km run with funds raised being used to perform open heart surgeries on children mainly drawn from needy backgrounds. 

Last year's event raised Kshs.41million which funded medical treatment for 216 children while a further 10,500 benefitted from free rheumatic heart disease in a screening exercise carried out across the country 

The Mater Hospital CEO, Dr. John Muriithi speaking at the event said, "We focus on treating children from poor households who suffer from ailments such as congenital heart defects and rheumatic heart valve disease. Many of them are forced to endure great discomfort and pain throughout their lives because the costs for corrective surgery usually vary between Kshs.500,000 and Kshs.2 million and are therefore completely unaffordable." 

The Mater Heart Run also aims to educate communities on the need to treat sore throats for children especially those between the ages of 0 and 5 years because they are a major sign of heart disease. Rheumatic heart disease is acquired through a persistent but neglected sore throat and parents are encouraged to ensure seek medical treatment for their children.