The Axiom REACH Foundation, a U.S.-based organization, is expanding its initiatives in Bangladesh by introducing its “7.5K to Fight Cancer” run in Dhaka. This event, set for January 8, 2027, aims to raise cancer awareness in a country experiencing rising cancer rates. The run will take place around Lake Hatirjheel, drawing over 1,000 runners and garnering international participation.
Supported by Axiom Health Strategies, a think tank focusing on oncology, the foundation plans to reach 30 million people through its awareness campaign. It also intends to double its financial contribution to cancer-related activities in Bangladesh, aiming to raise more than $60,000 from the event. Celebrity involvement, such as that of Bangladeshi singer Dilshad Nahar Kona, is crucial for rallying support.
Axiom REACH has already made significant impacts in Bangladesh. Since 2023, its Children’s Cancer Fund has aided 68 children, with 21 in remission. This program collaborates with 10 hospitals across the country. An example of the foundation’s success is Sumaya Akter Sinthia, a 17-year-old who overcame cancer and now volunteers to assist other children.
The foundation’s initiatives in Bangladesh include Project 1767, targeting breast cancer with free screenings, and the Cancer Patient Support program initiated in 2019 to aid financially struggling New Jersey residents. The foundation provides mobile breast cancer screenings and supports oncology students from underrepresented communities.
Research indicates increasing cancer rates in Bangladesh. A study in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention expects these rates to potentially double by 2050. In response, Axiom REACH is committed to expanding its programs in the region, driven by the vision articulated by Mohammad Ehsan, Axiom Health Strategies’ chief of staff and executive director of the foundation.
Future goals include raising the foundation’s annual budget to $300,000 next year and surpassing $500,000 by 2030. Ehsan emphasizes the transformative impact of these efforts, which offer hope and tangible support to individuals battling cancer.
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