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What is Run for the One?
An annual fundraising Run/Walk which began in 2021 to support the work of HHOA
Why We Run
In a district of nearly 500,000 people, there is only one public dental clinic in Nyamata District Hospital. In early 2021 a patient in severe pain and serious infection came from a village far from the Nyamata District Hospital, asking for our help. Shortly after arriving, the woman began having seizures, went into shock, and died in the dental chair, right in front of us. Even more heartbreaking was the fact that the woman was eight months pregnant.
She should be alive and joyously caring for her infant. Her death was totally preventable.
This woman died unnecessarily from an infection due to the inadequate “care” she received after having a tooth removed by a village nurse (who was not trained in dentistry). Because she did not have the means to travel to the hospital when the oral problem started, the patient relied on the nurse’s help. The treatment led to complications and a severe post-operative infection. By the time she reached us, the infection had spread throughout her body.
We will never forget this patient or the numbers of people who unnecessarily suffer or die in Rwanda due to a lack of appropriate dental care.
Remembering the Journey
In her honor we have created The Run for the One, a Rwanda-based fundraiser. During our first event, participants ran from the Nyamata District Hospital to the Ngeruka Health Center located near the woman’s village 14 miles (22.5 km) away to bring attention to the arduous journey that most Rwandans must make for even the simplest dental treatment. For many, that distance means they leave home at 3:00-5:00 am and travel by foot and bus to receive dental care. HHOA is committed to understanding and improving this situation as we build more and more dental clinics that provide closer access. We know that greater access to dental care will dramatically improve the health of Rwandan citizens and can even make a life and death difference.
Get Involved
We need your help! There are many ways you can join us for Run for the One, from anywhere in the world! Here are some ways to make a difference through Run for the One:
An annual fundraising Run/Walk which began in 2021 to support the work of HHOA
Why We Run
In a district of nearly 500,000 people, there is only one public dental clinic in Nyamata District Hospital. In early 2021 a patient in severe pain and serious infection came from a village far from the Nyamata District Hospital, asking for our help. Shortly after arriving, the woman began having seizures, went into shock, and died in the dental chair, right in front of us. Even more heartbreaking was the fact that the woman was eight months pregnant.
She should be alive and joyously caring for her infant. Her death was totally preventable.
This woman died unnecessarily from an infection due to the inadequate “care” she received after having a tooth removed by a village nurse (who was not trained in dentistry). Because she did not have the means to travel to the hospital when the oral problem started, the patient relied on the nurse’s help. The treatment led to complications and a severe post-operative infection. By the time she reached us, the infection had spread throughout her body.
We will never forget this patient or the numbers of people who unnecessarily suffer or die in Rwanda due to a lack of appropriate dental care.
Remembering the Journey
In her honor we have created The Run for the One, a Rwanda-based fundraiser. During our first event, participants ran from the Nyamata District Hospital to the Ngeruka Health Center located near the woman’s village 14 miles (22.5 km) away to bring attention to the arduous journey that most Rwandans must make for even the simplest dental treatment. For many, that distance means they leave home at 3:00-5:00 am and travel by foot and bus to receive dental care. HHOA is committed to understanding and improving this situation as we build more and more dental clinics that provide closer access. We know that greater access to dental care will dramatically improve the health of Rwandan citizens and can even make a life and death difference.
Get Involved
We need your help! There are many ways you can join us for Run for the One, from anywhere in the world! Here are some ways to make a difference through Run for the One:
- Pick a day, time, and location to run/walk
- Gather a group of friends and family to run/walk with you.
- You choose the distance. In Rwanda we do 10 Km but choose what works best for your group
- Ask each one of your runners/walkers to raise sponsorship.
- Set a goal per person! We suggest $250!
