𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐔𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐆𝐈𝐅𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 - 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝟕

𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐔𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐆𝐈𝐅𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 - 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝟕 (𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐍)

SATURDAY, FEB 21, 2026; 1100H- 1200H THE WAVE TOWERS SHOWROOM, CEBU IT PARK

Have you ever felt out of breath while going out for a run or doing something strenuous? Well, Children with Congenital Heart Defects feel this way even at rest, at every breathing moment of their lives. What is a CONGENITAL HEART DEFECT? Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) is one of the most common types of birth defect in children these days. One out of 100 is born with CHD, here in the Philippines, 20,000 children born yearly or 55 children daily that born with CHD. According to the Department of Health, Congenital Deformations of the heart is the 5th leading cause of infant deaths in the Philippines for decades now. Two out of Eight of these children with CHD are born with critical heart disease and will need surgery or a catheter-based intervention during their first year of life.

Approximately 5,000 patients yearly need to undergo heart surgery and currently the countries' leading hospital can only offer less than 400 charity operations leaving over 4,000 patients fighting for their lives. CHD can range from minor conditions to severe ones requiring surgery and this occurs when chambers, walls or valves of the heart do not develop normally before birth, causing the inefficient ability of the heart to pump therefore causing negative effects to a child's health. The cost of surgery alone is the major factor, as these operations can range from 350,000 to almost a million pesos depending on the complexity of the case. Couple that with majority of Filipinos living along or over the poverty line, children with CHD fight struggle doing things we normally take for granted like taking a few steps to the bathroom or climbing the stairs. For them is already a daunting and tiring task.

THE STORY BEHIND Back in 2007, the Rotary Club of Cebu (RCC) through the guidance of the Rotary Club of Makati West who ran a parallel program, recognized the need for a solution. RCC started by supporting the surgery of three (3) patients. The club stepped up the notch through the VTT or Vocational Training Team. By collaborating with the Gift of Life International, foreign medical mission performed pediatric cardiac surgeries in Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) here in Cebu that started in June 2018. This mission brought foreign pediatric cardiologists not only to operate on children with congenital heart defects but also to impart their knowledge and skills to our local doctors, eventually giving Cebu the skills to perform complex pediatric cases.

The pandemic, slowed us, but also opened a new avenue. A partnership was built with Delos Santos Medical Center in Quezon City where patients are treated. In collaboration with Let It Echo, headed by Ms. Dianne Alvarado and the power of social media, we extended our reach to other areas of the Visayas and Mindanao regions. And now, with more than 500 patients treated, the program has been relentless in its pursuit.

THE RUN FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE Recognizing the need for funding, with logistical costs and supplementary medicals, the fight against CHD is unending. More children need our help, and in order to raise awareness that CHD is a deadly yet treatable disease and also raise funds to treat more children, the Rotary Club of Cebu together with CITRINELAND brings you: THE RUN FOR GIFT OF LIFE-YEAR 7 The CITRINELAND RUN FOR GIFT OF LIFE aims to celebrate life as we honor the children that we have operated on with the hope that funds and awareness may be raised for more children to have a second lease in life. This year's run will happen on May 24, 2026, at the WATERFRONT CEBU CITY HOTEL and CASINO, Lahug, Cebu City. Symbolizing our commitment, run finishers will be given the opportunity to complete the 4-piece medal.
RACE CATEGORIES AND RATES The race will have 2 categories and 5 Distances Categories Open Category (all distances) Parent and Child Tandem Category (5 km, 3 km, 1 km) Distance 21 Km 10 Km 5 Km (for tandem: with children 12-17 years old) 3 Km (for tandem: with children 7-11 years old) 1 Km (for tandem: with children 6 years old and below) *Registration Fees are doubled for Tandem Category Registration Fee / per person P1,000.00 P 700.00 P 600.00 P 600.00 P 600.00 Gun Time 4:00 AM 4:15 AM 5:30 AM 5:40 AM 5:45 AM

FOR SPONSORSHIP INQUIRIES EITHER FOR THE RUN OR TO PLEDGE FOR A CHILD: • You may send us message via our Run for Gift of Life facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/runforgiftoflifecebu for more information and pledge • Or call our Rotary Club of Cebu secretariat THE ROTARY CLUB OF CEBU The Rotary Club of Cebu (RCC) is a 94-year-old civic club whose sole purpose is to serve humanity. Founded in 1932, is the second oldest club in the Philippines and is known to take on long term projects with a gradual but relevant positive effect to the community. With the help of our local and foreign partners from private, public and other rotary clubs, RCC has projects like: • Books donation program • Relief operations during calamities in partnership with Shelter Box and other organizations • WASH (Water & Sanitation Health) provision of running water to areas that have scarcity of water • Cleft Lip and Palate program to treat indigent children with cleft lip and palate • Raising awareness and funds for the move to End Polio disease worldwide • Helping schools expand their offering with Technical- Vocational courses so students can acquire vocational skills that offers them an alternative livelihood • The GIFT OF LIFE, the club's flagship program that gives indigent children born with congenital heart defect a chance for a second lease in life RCC and its members continue to strive to help in any way we can and though we can't solve all of the world's problems, we hope to be an instrument in making this world a better and more peaceful place to live in. CONCLUSION The Fight to Save Lives is not just a call for the few but a call for ALL. The Rotary Club of Cebu, through the efforts of its President Shigejiro Onda, is calling on all individuals, Rotarians and non- Rotarians alike, to support the CITRINELAND Run for Gift of Life, a very accessible avenue for you to either financially sponsor these children, or even to raise awareness through your run registration. It's always good to celebrate life, wouldn't it be better to celebrate a SECOND LEASE in Life? Join now! register for the CITRINELAND Run for Gift of Life or sponsor and help save lives!