THE RACE: 5K Fundraiser Run or Walk Join us in supporting Malawi Children's Initiative for the sixth year by participating in a 5K run or walk. All runners receive a beautiful, unique wooden medallion hand-carved in Malawi, a Run for Malawi T-shirt and free admission to the post-race festival. You can create an online fundraiser to amplify your contribution and win prizes Top adult fundraiser receives UNC basketball signed by coach Hubert Davis Top Child Fundraiser (<16) receives Nintendo Switch Second place adult and child receives Custom Nike Air Force 1 Sneakers Individual fundraising Tiers Raise $200 and your race fee is refunded ($35) so you run for free! Raise $500 receive $50 gift card to a Southern Village Business Raise $1000 and receive $100 gift card to a Southern Village Business Other prizes include Malawian Handcrafted items See Fundraiser Swag section for details There will also be virtual options for the event. Virtual options include medallion and T shirt with slight extra charge for shipping and handling. THE CHARITY:

Malawi Children’s initiative is a 501c3 established in 2017 by physicians David and Elizabeth Fitzgerald to help build bridges between their friends and colleagues at home in the US and those in Malawi, where they have worked and sometimes lived since 2011. MCI focuses on improving the lives of Malawian children through investment in healthcare, education, and nutritional initiatives. In the last 6 years MCI has sent over $1 million to Malawi. Projects include funding an elementary school building, providing dozens of scholarships for Malawian learners from elementary school through post-graduate training and medical school, building, staffing and running a pediatric clinical lab at Kamuzu Central Hospital, and contributing thousands of hours of nursing care support to the KCH Pediatric Department. When COVID hit Malawi MCI donated funds to purchase personal protective equipment for the Pediatric Department and oxygen supplies for COVID patients.

This year our goal is to raise $100,000 to support and expand the essential pediatric staff at Kamuzu Central Hospital. Currently, MCI employs nurses, laboratory staff, clinical officers, and nutritionists. In 2023 the funds raised were also used to start the first pediatric residency program at KCH. Our 2024 goal is to continue training more pediatric residents at KCH. There are currently less than 10 local Pediatricians in practice in Malawi. MCI hopes to train 2 new pediatricians at KCH over the next several years and retain them to work at KCH.

At the same time MCI is laying the groundwork to construct a new pediatric hospital on the grounds of KCH. This facility and the newly trained pediatricians will greatly improve the care of children in Lilongwe.

Malawi Children's Initiative is an all volunteer non-profit meaning all of the time dedicated by those in the United States goes unpaid to maximize the benefits to Malawi

THE GOAL: Raise $100,000 to train new pediatricians and save the lives of Malawian children.