More than a hundred children born with congenital heart defects are expected to receive life-saving surgeries this year through a continuing medical assistance program.
Led by Rotary Club of Cebu and its partners, the program offers hope to families who otherwise could not afford treatment that can cost hundreds of thousands of pesos.
Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) are structural problems in the heart present at birth that can make even simple activities exhausting for children.
Doctors say many patients struggle with breathing, fatigue, poor growth, and repeated illnesses because their hearts cannot pump blood efficiently.
In the Philippines, about one in every 100 children is born with CHD, and thousands require surgery each year.
Medical experts note that two out of eight children with CHD are born with critical conditions that need surgery or catheter-based intervention within their first year of life.
Procedures such as patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure can cost between P400,000 and P500,000, while open-heart surgeries can exceed half a million pesos, placing treatment out of reach for many families.
Last year, organizers set a P3-million target and were able to assist 115 children.
For 2026, the commitment is to support at least 100 children needing procedures, continuing a mission that has expanded over nearly two decades.
Since 2007, the Rotary Club of Cebu has worked with Gift of Life International to bring medical missions, fund surgeries, and train local specialists.
These efforts include collaboration with doctors at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, where pediatric cardiac procedures are performed for charity patients.
Program leaders said partnerships with hospitals and volunteer doctors help reduce costs by covering professional fees and providing materials that are not readily available in government facilities.
The initiative has also expanded its reach to patients from other parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.
Over the years, more than 500 children have received treatment through the program, reflecting what organizers describe as a sustained effort to address a condition that remains one of the leading causes of infant deaths in the country.
Doctors emphasize that early detection and timely intervention are crucial to preventing complications and improving quality of life.
Without surgery, many children face lifelong limitations and serious health risks, while successful treatment allows them to attend school, play, and grow normally.
To support these efforts, organizers will hold the Run for Life Gift of Life Year 7 on May 24, 2026 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino in Lahug.
The run will feature open category distances of 21 km, 10 km, 5 km, 3 km, and 1 km, as well as a parent-and-child tandem category for selected distances.
Registration fees are set at P1,000 for the 21 km, P700 for the 10 km, and P600 for the 5 km, 3 km, and 1 km races, with tandem entries requiring double the fee. Gun starts are scheduled as early as 4 a.m.
Participants will receive race kits and will have the opportunity to complete a four-piece finisher medal, symbolizing continued support for children undergoing treatment.
Organizers said proceeds from the run will help cover surgeries, medical devices, and related care for indigent children diagnosed with CHD, reinforcing a long-running commitment to give patients a second chance at life.
