DeKUT Hosts the 2022 Mater Heart Run

Mater Heart Run is an annual event in the Kenyan Calendar towards the support of heart surgery for needy children.The Mater Cardiac Program began 20 years ago, when The Mater Hospital realized that very little cardiac work of good quality was being carried out in the country. Patients who were financially endowed had to go overseas for treatment. A large majority, many of them children, had no recourse to quality Medicare and were destined to a sickly life and premature death.

The Mater Hospital, therefore, started a cardiac program in 1995 to cater for children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and the first open-heart surgery was performed in 1996. This was in line with the values of the Sisters of Mercy, which emphasize on compassion for all and seek to uplift the lives of the underprivileged in the society.

To date over 3,000 heart procedures have been performed courtesy of the support from well-wishers. Most of these surgeries were done at Mater Hospital by Kenyan doctors, with a few being referred overseas or done by visiting Cardiologists. The Mater Heart Run was started in 2002 as one of the main fundraising avenues for the Cardiac program. Initially held only in Nairobi, the Heart Run has grown over the years and is now held in ELEVEN (11) different towns namely; Nairobi, Mombasa, Machakos, Kakamega, Kisumu, Meru, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyeri, Kericho&Bomet.In 2008, the Hospital started free cardiac outreach screening camps all over the country to screen for heart ailments and educate the community about the acquired heart disease, which is preventable but could lead to death if ignored.This year's run was held on Saturday 11th June 2021 at the University. Kenyans from all walks of life come together to support the cause. Members of the DeKUT Fitness Club also took part in this noble cause; the club participates in CSR initiatives as a way of giving back to society.