Summitting Mountains for a Cause: Ultra-Runners Challenge Mt. Kenya to Eliminate Cervical Cancer

NAIROBI – In a bold fusion of extreme athleticism and health advocacy, ten ultra-runners are attempting to summit Mt. Kenya’s Point Lenana (15,345 ft) within ten hours today. This daring feat, organized by KILELE Health Association in partnership with Ultra Runners Kenya and Arch Treks Safaris, carries profound symbolism: each hour represents one of the ten women Kenya loses daily to cervical cancer.

The 5th Mt. Kenya Ultra-Dash Kilele Challenge unfolds on a historic day – the first World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day – under the theme “Summitting Mountains for Cancer Prevention.” The event responds to the World Health Organization’s global call to “Act Now: Eliminate Cervical Cancer,” emphasizing scaled-up vaccination, screening, and treatment.

Benda Kithaka, Executive Director of KILELE Health Association, emphasized the urgency: “Cervical cancer is preventable, treatable, and eliminable, but only if we keep it consistently in the national conversation and encourage our people to Act Now.” She noted that the ultra-runners have taken time away from work and family to champion women’s health, drawing inspiration from personal stories of loved ones lost to the disease and survivors whose resilience fuels their commitment.

The challenge marks the launch of a month-long cervical cancer awareness and fundraising campaign encouraging Kenyans to take concrete prevention actions. These include talking to community members about HPV vaccination, taking girls for protection, encouraging women to get screened, and supporting those in treatment.

Nyaruai Muhoro, Race Director for Ultra Runners Kenya, explained the personal connection driving the athletes: “Each runner is dedicating the summit attempt to a woman they personally know who has been affected. Our mission is simple: raise awareness, raise funds, and reduce stigma.”

The Ultra-Dash represents the summit moment of KILELE Health’s year-long national movement that has seen survivors and caregivers hike mountains using storytelling and advocacy to elevate voices of those most affected. The effort continues next week with the launch of the ACHA ASPIRE Scorecard, an accountability tool designed to track progress in HPV vaccination, screening, and treatment across Africa.

The symbolic runs will continue in January 2026 with a second expedition featuring three summits in two days, culminating Kenya’s National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month with participation from cancer survivors and caregivers.

Cervical cancer remains a critical health challenge in Kenya, with 5,845 new cases diagnosed annually and 3,591 lives lost to the disease each year. The government has strengthened prevention efforts this year through the switch to a single-dose HPV vaccination schedule for all 10-year-old girls, proven safe and effective for cervical cancer prevention.

As the runners ascend toward the peak, their extraordinary effort embodies the collective determination needed to overcome a preventable disease that claims too many lives, proving that together, Kenya can rise to any challenge.