Solidarity steps of hope : La Chaîne de l'Espoir aims to save lives through sport

---

Extract from the article: On 31 May 2025, the Stade de Kégué in Lomé hosted the sports event “Les Foulées Solidaires de l'Espoir” edition 2025; a solidarity race that aims to raise funds to offer 200 Togolese children with various pathologies the chance of being operated on,

---

On 31 May 2025, the Stade de Kégué in Lomé hosted the sports event “Les Foulées Solidaires de l'Espoir” edition 2025; a solidarity race that aims to raise funds to offer 200 Togolese children with various pathologies the chance of being operated on, during a medical-surgical mission scheduled for August 2025 in Vogan. 

The objectives of this initiative are to raise funds to finance surgery for children in need of medical care, as well as to raise public awareness of the importance of access to healthcare and its impact on sustainable development. Organized by La Chaîne de l'Espoir Togo, in collaboration with its local and international partners, this initiative combines sport, humanitarian commitment and citizen mobilization.

Solidarity through sport

The event offered a variety of activities for all ages. Participants chose between walking, for a calm immersion, or running at an adapted pace. Laps were counted for the most competitive. For challenges, the 2 x 100 m relay race tested team spirit. The sack race added a playful touch. The day ended with a Zumba Fitness session. Every step, every effort symbolized a child's recovery. This reinforced the link between sport and humanitarianism. The participants were made aware of monkeypox: how it can be prevented and how it can be treated.

An urgent appeal for child health

Access to healthcare for vulnerable populations is under threat. This initiative responds to an urgent need. It is about access to surgical care for vulnerable children in rural areas. Serge Kouadio, Chaîne de l'Espoir's head of mission, underlined that « these children don't have the means to come to the capital for surgery. We want to offer these children the joy of surgery. We want to operate on 200 children. There are various ways of collecting funds: Moov Money, Mixx by Yass, cheques or cash. »

Through this activity, each participant becomes an actor of change, contributing directly to saving lives. « In August, we will have a mission in Vogan. It will mobilize over 500 families. We've created this event so that people can contribute. The average cost of a child is 140,000 francs. We want to operate on around 200 of them, and have a budget of almost 28 million, » insists Valentin Aziagbe, head of the school health program school health.

« Chaîne de l'Espoir has been active in Togo for several years, particularly in the care of children with all kinds of malformations, and this is an opportunity for me to recognize the cooperation that exists between Chaîne de l'Espoir and the Ministry of Health, especially as it reinforces the government's actions to improve the health of the population and that of vulnerable children. We need to show more solidarity », pleads Dr Marin Kokou Wotobé, General Secretary of the representing the Ministry of Health. The event is open to all people of good will: children, young people, adults, companies, associations and public institutions, with several ways of getting involved.

 Esther KOLANI