The Delta State Government has donated ₦10 million in support of cancer advocacy as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, commended the courage, vision and determination of cancer patient advocate, Chineyenwa Judith Amadi, describing her journey as a “story that touches the soul.”
Amadi, who rode a powerbike through 15 countries including France and Belgium in her Ride for Life campaign for cancer patients, stopped in Delta State on her return journey to Owerri from Europe. She was received on Thursday by Dr. Emu, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojeame, and other senior government officials.
Speaking on behalf of the Delta State Government, Dr. Emu said Amadi’s story was one of resilience, ambition and accomplishment, driven by painful personal experiences with cancer.
“The position of Chinenye Judith presents a very interesting story of determination, ambition and accomplishment. This is a story that truly touches the soul,” Emu said.
He explained that Amadi travelled from Owerri through Lagos to France and was now on her way back, using the journey to amplify awareness and raise funds for cancer patients.
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“Her Ride for Life mission was inspired by the personal challenges of losing someone to cancer, and she chose that line to face in her life,” the SSG said.
Dr. Emu noted that the core objective of Amadi’s advocacy aligns with the state government’s priorities in public health and social welfare.
“The direct objective of this mission is to raise funds to support cancer victims, and the Delta State Government is very much interested and aligned with such humanitarian causes,” he stated.
He added that the government’s support goes beyond empathy, stressing that Amadi’s journey serves as a powerful example to young people, particularly the girl child.
“We are not just expressing empathy. We are also using her as a model to the girl child—what it means to have a vision, pursue it with excellence, and accomplish it,” Emu said.
As a show of support, the Delta State Government donated ₦10 million to Amadi’s cancer advocacy campaign.
Earlier, Amadi narrated the personal experience that pushed her back into cancer advocacy, saying she witnessed patients abandon treatment due to financial constraints. She recounted helping a woman who had stopped chemotherapy after completing only four out of 12 prescribed sessions because she could not afford to continue.
“By the time I reached out to her, it was six months already, and that meant she would have to start chemotherapy all over again. I used my personal funds to help her complete the chemotherapy, but when it was time for surgery, I ran out of money,” Amadi said.
She said that experience opened her eyes to the reality faced by many cancer patients who start treatment but are unable to finish due to cost.
“That was when I realised there are many people like her—people who are already in treatment but are stuck and cannot continue. That is why I started this journey, to throw light on people’s fears and help them,” she explained.
While emphasizing the need for financial support, Amadi also stressed that prevention and early detection remain critical.
“If cancer is detected at the pre-malignant stage, there will be no need for this huge expenditure. The real fight is awareness and removing the stigma so people can come out early,” she said.
Amadi further explained that her decision to ride across countries was intentional, aimed at drawing attention to the silent suffering of cancer patients.
“I chose to go on the road because I wanted people to see, to ask questions, and to listen. Every mile I rode was to remind the world that cancer patients are fighting every day, often quietly and alone. This journey was my own way of standing with them and saying they are not invisible,” she said.
She added that her long-term vision goes beyond fundraising to building sustained awareness and hope.
“This is not a one-time campaign. I want this to be a yearly conversation where we talk about prevention, early detection, and support. If my journey encourages one person to get checked early or helps one patient complete treatment, then it is worth it,” Amadi stated.
Amadi expressed gratitude to the Delta State Government for the financial support and encouragement, describing the ₦10 million donation as a major boost to her campaign and a renewed hope for cancer patients struggling to complete their treatment.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojeame, praised Amadi’s resilience and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to supporting cancer prevention, early detection and advocacy through technical assistance and public enlightenment.
