MEI Schools Class of 1987 alum Ken Baerg shares his part in the beginnings of Run for Water, which (over the past 10 years) has transformed over 40 communities throughout Ethiopia, and has raised over $2.5 million dollars, providing 100,000 people with clean water for life.
Have you started training yet? Plan to be a part of this worthwhile community and global event.
Run for Water
SUNDAY, MAY 27, 2018
Mill Lake Park
5K / 10K / Half Marathon
Source: Medium
Ken and his family at the first Run for Water event!
In 2006 / 2007, I was reeling from having spent too many years in school, attempting to advance career and credentials and realized I was doing very little to give back to my community or world. At about that time I came across an article in LIFE magazine that profiled the international water crisis. They shared an absurd stat: that every 20 seconds somewhere in the world, a child under 12 died from a waterborne disease. As a recreational runner I realized Abbotsford did not have much in the way of high-quality running events and certainly nothing that profiled a cause like this.
I spoke to a few friends who were equally enthusiastic about the concept and within one year the run for water was born! It was always important to us that the organization remained true to its roots and that money raised went directly to those in need.
The thing that I am most proud of is that run for water has in fact remained true to its values and roots. Every year we inspire local kids to think about the fact that fellow global citizens do not have access to basic necessities including clean water. And every year we do our best to inspire people to give to this very worthy cause.
#EveryStepARipple
