The Run for Water has done it again!
Last Sunday, new records for attendance and funds raised were set, as nearly 4,900 people generated $358,000 to create access to clean drinking water for people in Ethiopia, via the Canadian non-profit agency HOPE International.
Making this amazing achievement even more remarkable is the fact that the main events – the 5K, 10K, half marathon and full marathon – occurred on Sunday, which featured steady, soaking rain.
Yet, the weather seemed to have deterred no one.
Seniors, young parents with babies in strollers, throngs of children, students, and runners of all types and abilities braved the elements to run their respective races for a good cause.
Ken Baerg, chair of the Run for Water organizing committee, said afterward, “It’s just been so encouraging to see people rally around an event like this. They do it because they want to be part of something that’s bigger than themselves, and I think that’s such an admirable thing.”
Once again, it shows what can be achieved by a determined group of organizers, a legion of volunteers, and several thousand inspired people.
Even individuals who normally aren’t runners were heard to say they were compelled to run because of such “strong community motivation.”
If you ran, you can feel very good about yourself, and your fellow participants.
If you didn’t run, you might want to think about making a date for next year, and be part of new records that the Run for Water is bound to set.
