DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 29 June) – At least a thousand runners joined a fun run at Azuela Cove on Sunday to raise funds for corrective surgeries for children born with clubfoot. Now in its third year, the Happy Feet fun run has raised a total of ₱250,000 for Tebow CURE Children’s Hospital in Davao City—₱100,000 in 2023 and ₱150,000 last year. Each ₱10,000 donation covers one child’s surgery and full recovery, from pre-op care to follow-up checkups. This year, organizers aim to raise ₱200,000 to fund treatment for 20 more children. A total of 1,149 participants joined this year’s run, with 452 in the 21K category, 453 in the 10K, and 244 in the 5K. JCI Davao Vice President Sherwin Dumago stated that Happy Feet, which began in 2023, turns ideas into impact, benefiting children with clubfoot. Over the past two years, the initiative funded surgeries for 25 children, including siblings Rosemarie, 13, and Rodmark, 3, from the Dinagat Islands, who underwent corrective surgery in April. Their mother, Lourdes Prado, expressed gratitude for the free treatment, including medications and follow-up consultations, with their local government assisting with transportation costs. Peter Cowles, executive director of Tebow CURE Children’s Hospital, emphasized the event’s role in providing life-changing surgeries for children from underserved areas, ensuring zero billing for families. He described Happy Feet as a meaningful event that combines health with a noble cause. (Allizah Keziah Manulat / MindaNews intern)
