Walk for Water 5K at UT to raise awareness, funds for clean water worldwide
April 7th, 2017 by Christine BillauWomen and children in many countries around the world have to carry jugs for miles every day get clean water.
That trek will be simulated at The University of Toledo this weekend during the annual 5K walk and run called Walk for Water. The event raises money to help Clean Water for the World, an organization working to build, ship, install and maintain water purification units for people without clean water around the world.
Walk for Water will start at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 9 on the UT Centennial Mall. Participants can begin checking in at 1:15 p.m.
Participants are encouraged to carry gallons of water during the fundraiser to help simulate what people around the world have to do every day. Pre-filled water jugs will be provided.
Last year, 197 participants carried a total of 202 gallons of water over the 3.2-mile route. They also raised more than $20,000, which was enough to provide 20 water purification units.
“Clean Water for the World is a nonprofit organization that provides simple, adaptable water purification systems at no charge to communities without access to clean water,” said Brittany Layden, publicity director for Walk for Water Toledo. “These units were built on UT’s campus by engineering students and then installed by the students in villages in El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. These 20 units will provide about 12,000 gallons of clean water per day to about 3,000 people.”
The goal of Walk for Water is to increase Toledo’s awareness of the worldwide lack of access to clean water and to raise funds to help Clean Water for the World in its efforts to provide water purifications units at no cost to communities in developing countries.
The water purification units also help in lowering chances of getting intestinal illnesses such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery and typhoid fever, Layden said.
Gold, silver and bronze metals will go to men and women in the 5K race. Trophies also will be awarded to the individual or team that raises the most money and carries the most water.
Registration is $12 for students and $15 for adults. T-shirts also will be available for $8.
Register and donate at firstgiving.com/cw4w/WalkforWaterToledo2017.
Christine Billau is
UT's Media Relations Specialist. Contact her at 419.530.2077 or christine.billau@utoledo.edu.
Email this author | All posts by
Christine Billau