30-year-old James Irungu from Murang’a has launched a remarkable 80-hour tree-hugging challenge to raise awareness about Kenya’s growing cancer burden and urge the government to strengthen interventions.
Irungu began the unusual campaign at 9 pm on Sunday in the heart of Murang’a town, vowing to remain hugging the tree continuously until Thursday at 5 am. By Monday afternoon, he had already completed 12 hours of the grueling challenge, receiving encouragement from supporters who arrived periodically to cheer him on.
Speaking about his motivation, Irungu highlighted the rising number of cancer cases in Kenya and the heavy financial strain the disease places on families.
"I am doing this to show people that this is a very dangerous disease," he said. "Many families have been impoverished by cancer. Some have sold land, others have taken loans, and still, lives are being lost."
Irungu also pointed out that many patients must travel abroad, often at high costs, to access specialized treatment.
"We do not have a hospital here in Kenya that can cure cancer. People have to go to India," he said, adding that such trips are out of reach for most ordinary Kenyans.
He called on the government to declare cancer a national disaster, drawing parallels to the public awareness campaigns during the HIV/AIDS crisis.
"When HIV came, we used to see posters everywhere in public places warning people and asking them if they had been tested. We want the same for cancer, messages everywhere telling people to go for screening."
The challenge is deeply personal for Irungu, as cancer has claimed several of his relatives. He believes that public education, early screening, and investment in local treatment facilities could dramatically reduce deaths.
Following in the footsteps of Truphena Muthoni from Nyeri, who holds the record for the longest tree-hugging marathon at 48 hours, Irungu hopes not only to surpass previous milestones but also to spark a national conversation on cancer prevention and care.
"If this makes even one person go for screening or pushes leaders to act, then the pain and discomfort will be worth it," he said.
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