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On Saturday, May 6, 2017, my daughters and I will be joining people from around the globe to walk or run 6 kilometers to support World Vision’s water initiatives through the World Vision Global 6K for Water. 6 kilometers (approximately 3.7 miles) is the average distance that people in the developing world, often women and young girls like my daughters and I, have to walk for water each day. This walk can be dangerous, and the water is often contaminated with life-threatening diseases.
I’ve noticed that since we have been getting ready and training for this 6K, that there are so many times that we take for granted the access we have to clean water. Especially when we are on walks ourselves. When we are exercising and get thirsty, we don’t have to go farther than our kitchen for water that is safe to drink. It is hard for us all to imagine what it is like not to have access to clean water, but as we are training I’ve started sharing some facts with my daughters to help them understand more about this serious issue so that they know why it is so important for them to get involved in helping.
As we took a walk together we talked about the nearly 1,000 children under the age of 5 that die every day from diarrhea caused by contaminated water, poor sanitation, and improper hygiene. These are all things that don’t have to happen. Things that, with our help, can be a thing of the past. It surprised us all to learn that in Ethiopia alone, about 40 million people lack a clean water source and an estimated 70 million live without adequate sanitation.
World Vision believes the global water and sanitation crisis can be solved within our lifetime and we want to be a part of the solution with them. We love that World Vision provides a new person with clean water every 30 seconds as part of their full solution to end poverty. In 2015, World Vision provided access to clean water to 2.3 million people, and the organization’s goal is to provide clean water and sanitation to one new person every 10 seconds by 2020.
In addition to providing safe water, World Vision also provides sanitation and hygiene education to decrease illnesses, which improves health and lessens the burden on women and children. Having safe drinking water, improved sanitation, good hygiene, and good water resource management can lead to a reduction in child mortality, cut transmission of malaria, improve public health, and reduce extreme poverty.
Combining water, sanitation and hygiene solutions together can cut preventable child deaths by up to 57 percent, reduce chronic malnutrition by 40 percent, reduce school absenteeism among girls by 50 percent, and obtain an 8:1 economic return in target communities. We all thought we understood how important having clean water was, but as we all learned more of these facts surrounding clean water and hygiene, we all started to see how big of an impact it really had. Clean water helps communities in so many ways and especially women and children.
There are many ways for you to get involved:
You can become a host site to work together with your church, school, community center or running club. It is free to register as a host site and spread the word about how fun and easy it is to support clean water programs around the world! Whether your goal is 10 people or 100 people participating, World Vision will equip you with all the marketing materials, race day signage, and staff support for a successful race day.
You can join a local host site. Walk or run with other Global 6K for Water participants at a host site near you. This is perfect if you want to participate with a group, but don’t have time to organize one.
You can start a virtual team. Want to create a team with friends and family all over the world? This is a great way to have them all join your team from near and afar and you can all walk or run from your own neighborhoods on race day.
You can do your own Individual race where you walk or run the Global 6K for Water from your own front door. You can use your treadmill or around your neighborhood with your kids, either way, you’ll be taking part in a global effort to support clean water! Plus, Thanks to their generous donors, the registration fee for kids (15 and under) is only $25 – a discount of 50%! This is a really great way for the kids to enjoy some family time while also helping other families and children all over the world.
Update! I’m so excited to share that World Vision reached an exciting milestone with their water program, they achieved their 2020 goal (3 years early!) of reaching one new person with water every 10 seconds! The next milestone they’ll be working towards is universal water access everywhere World Vision works by 2030. I have a very good feeling they will reach this goal early too!
It blows my mind that this day in age people don’t have access to clean water. Thanks for helping to raise awareness.
I love that you guys are doing this. It’s such a great cause. I can’t imagine not having enough water to drink.
I never heard of this race, but I LOVE it! Was a great way to raise money while having fun!
Wow! I haven’t heard about the Global 6k For Water. What an incredible cause and such a fun “giveback” activity for the whole family. I’m off to research more for our family to participate.
This is such a great global effort!!! I need to see how I can get involved in this!
This is such a great cause. Too many people are affected by the lack of clean water.
What a worthy cause. It’s great you are doing it as a family.
This is going to be such a fun experience. WTG for helping to raise awareness to help others in impoverished countries.
This is such a great cause and a fun way to get kids involved in an important mission. I love the way this run works too!
The World Vision Global 6K for Water is a great way for the kids to get involved. It is so important for them to know not everyone lives like we do.
I would love to get involved int the next World Vision Global 6K for Water. I will have to look and see what is available in my area.
You must be so proud of your girls for completing the World Vision Global 6K for Water. It is so important for kids to get involved in the world.
I would love to get involved in the World Vision Global 6K for Water. It would be a great way for my family to give back together. It is going to be fun to train together.
That is an amazing cause to run a 6K for. I just cannot even fathom having to trek that far for water that might make me sick. Good luck and prayers on your run.
It’s nice that you can work as a family for this great cause. I would love to be involved in this, I haven’t ran in a race in a very long time, so it would take a lot of preparing for me, but if I got the family involved it would be fun!
This is such a wonderful program. My mom LOVED World Vision. They have done many great projects through the years, and this is just another prime example.
What a great way to raise money for safe water. Our church is raising money to put a well in Africa.
I love that you are preparing as a family. Good luck! Such an amazing campaign for a good cause!
I think it’s awesome that your whole family is involved. It’s great to help out and make people aware about this situation. It’s a good initiative and it would be nice to get involved.
It is great that you involve your kids in a cause and give back to the less fortunate people in the world. We take for granted how good we have it here this seems like a great movement.
It is a great way to involve kids to save water. However, our future is in their hands.
I personally don’t run unless I’m being chased, so I definitely can appreciate your dedication. Looks like you had a great time for a great cause!
This water run is amazing and for a great cause. It is amazing that your whole family is doing it together.
it’s sad to think that at this date people don’t have access to clean water. it’s so sad i’l love to be part if this
Seems like a new program haven’t heard about this before. I love this program! That’s great you involved kids in a great cause
With all the technology we have these days, you would think by now, all countries have clean water. Breaks my heart.
This is a cause I could really get behind. I have always been sure that if everyone had clean water that so many world problems would be able to be solved.
I love this! It’s such an important cause. I might have to run at some point since it’s great to spread awareness for htis.
This is a cool marathon! It is a great cause to bring awareness to! Great Job!
I love that you are getting the whole family involved! I try to get my kids involved in great causes as well, it helps them consider more people than just themselves. This is a great one the whole family can support!
It was a great idea, honestly I can’t believe how it can be live without water. this is really nice support.
Your daughters are tough kids – running that 6 kilometers run! All cred to them for supporting this cause.
What a great cause! I can’t wait to hear about the turnout on the event and how everyone does.
A brilliant cause and it’s really wonderful to see parents encouraging kids to do worthy activities like this one. Good for you!
This is a wonderful initiative. Imagine walking 6 miles just to get water. We definitely take this for granted.
What a lovely cause and it’s so nice that you involved your whole family
I’ve participated in many fun runs with my family… kids and the grandparents and its always a wonderful way to bond and stay healthy.
This is a great cause. I love that you are training together. I too am training for a run. Have a great time.
What a great cause and it’s good to do this as a family. Thanks for sharing this with us
That sounds like a race for a great cause. I love that it is a 6k instead of the traditional 5k.