Murang’a man begins 80-hour tree-hugging challenge to raise cancer awareness

A 30-year-old man from Murang’a has embarked on an 80-hour tree-hugging endurance challenge in a bid to draw national attention to the growing cancer burden in Kenya and to push for stronger government intervention.

James Irungu began the unusual awareness campaign Sunday 9pm in the heart of Murang’a town and hopes to remain hugging the tree continuously until Thursday 5am.

By Monday afternoon, he had already completed 12 hours of the gruelling challenge, with supporters gathering periodically to cheer him on as the clock continued to tick.

Irungu said the initiative was motivated by the rising number of cancer cases in the country and the heavy financial toll the disease continues to inflict on Kenyan families.

“I am doing this to show people that this is a very dangerous disease,” Irungu said.

“Many families have been impoverished by cancer. Some have sold land, others have taken loans, and still, lives are being lost.”

He lamented that many patients are forced to travel outside the country in search of specialised treatment, a situation he described as both costly and heartbreaking.

“We do not have a hospital here in Kenya that can cure cancer. People have to go to India,” he said, adding that the journey is beyond the reach of most ordinary Kenyans.

Irungu who addressed the press after starting the challenge urged the government to declare cancer a national disaster, similar to the approach taken during the peak of the HIV/AIDS crisis.

“When HIV came, we used to see posters everywhere in public places warning people and asking them if they had been tested,” he said.

“We want the same for cancer, messages everywhere telling people to go for screening.”

According to Irungu, cancer has claimed the lives of several of his relatives, a personal experience that strengthened his resolve to speak out.

He believes that stronger public education, early screening, and investment in local treatment facilities could significantly reduce deaths.

“I feel the government response is still inadequate compared to the scale of the problem,” he said.

The tree-hugging challenge comes amid growing public interest in endurance-based awareness campaigns.

Currently, Truphena Muthoni from Nyeri holds the record for the longest tree-hugging marathon at 48 hours.

He recent 72-hour attempt is, however, still awaiting ratification by Guinness World Records.

Irungu hopes to surpass those milestones and, more importantly, spark a national conversation on cancer prevention and care.

“If this makes even one person go for screening or pushes leaders to act, then the pain and discomfort will be worth it,” he said, as he braced himself to continue the challenge through the night.