Each year, the UCT Surgical Society organises an event to raise funds for the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital. This year, all proceeds from the event will be going towards a very worthy and important initiative, the Upgrade and Expansion of the Emergency Centre at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. This Emergency Centre is currently the only dedicated emergency paediatric centre in Southern Africa, and it operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It currently provides essential medical care to over 45 000 patients per year. 

Presently the Emergency Centre is not able to optimally support the large influx of children that come through its doors due to limited space, overcrowding and sub-optimal and inefficient logistics. This upgrade and expansion of the Emergency Centre will ensure that more patients will receive the life-saving care and the second chance they need sooner and in the best possible conditions – ultimately improving their chances of recovery and rehabilitation.

The "Scrub Run" involves a group of passionate medical students who will be participating in the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Virtual Marathon on 18 October 2020 in medical scrubs in order to raise funds and awareness for this worthy cause. 

100% of funds raised will go towards the Upgrade and Expansion of the Emergency Centre.

Last year, we collectively managed to raise an amazing R200 000 for this incredible institution. In 2020, with your help, we hope to exceed our target from last year so that we can provide even more children with high quality medical, nursing and paramedic care. Our dream as a Surgical Society is to ensure that all patients have access to the medical care they need and to help create health systems that put patients first. We are incredibly excited about this initiative and would be very grateful if you would consider donating to this worthwhile cause so that we can reach our fundraising targets.