Obey Musiwa
Thousands of dollars were raised for children battling cancer as mud-covered runners took part in the 14th Husqvarna Mud Run at Donnybrook this weekend, supporting KidzCan Zimbabwe’s efforts to fund life-saving treatment.
The event attracted more than 1 000 pre-sold tickets and 61 sponsors, turning a day of fun and fitness into a fundraising drive for the more than 900 children and families supported by the organisation annually.
The initiative comes as Zimbabwe’s childhood cancer survival rate stands at just 20 percent, far below the World Health Organisation’s target of 60 percent by 2030.
Funds raised through the event will help KidzCan support children in need of cancer treatment and improve their chances of survival.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, KidzCan Health and Awareness Coordinator Charity Kawadza said the mud run had become a fixture on the organisation’s annual fundraising calendar.
“So for us to survive and supplement some of our income, we have to do fundraising activities and mud run is one of those activities that we’ve been doing year in, year out,” she said.
She said the aim is to save lives. “Because we want to increase survival rates of children in Zimbabwe. If we do not treat the cancer, then our children will not survive.”
Ms Kawadza said cancer drains households, so KidzCan provides treatment at no cost.
“The disease called cancer is very, very expensive. Medication is expensive. The resources are actually used to the last in the household,” she said.
She added that the charity supplies chemotherapy and diagnostic support free of charge. “When we assist patients, we do not charge. It is all free of charge.”
Ms Kawadza said part of the money will support Rainbow Village, which houses families so children can stay on course with treatment.
“So we actually built a halfway home and we call it a home away from home,” she said.
“We have got 24 rooms, it is in Belgravia.” She added that “when they are at the home, everything they get is free of charge”
Husqvarna marketing manager Philippa Howard said strong corporate backing and a lively crowd made this year’s event a success.
“We had a total of 61 sponsors come on board and help us this year, you can see all of their flags all over the show, and it’s just looking great,” she said.
She described the mood on the course. “As you can see, our course is looking full, everybody’s having a great time, it is really, really muddy, and yeah, it’s been a great day.”
Ms Howard said the organisers hope to repeat last year’s fundraising success.
“Last year, I think we raised about $66,000 for KidzCan and we are not too sure on our numbers for this year, but we are feeling positive that we’re going to make that match again,” she said.
Founded in 2003 by a childhood cancer survivor, KidzCan supports two children’s cancer wards in Harare, covering chemotherapy drugs, blood products, CT and MRI scans and transport allowances.
In 2025, it facilitated 5 529 prescriptions and made 2,240 phone calls to caregivers.
