World Vision Global 6K for Water

I always love when I have the chance to partner with organizations which help people around the world. World Vision is one of my favorites. I'm sharing this without receiving anything because I really believe in what they do as an organization!

Six kilometers (approximately 3.7 miles) is the average distance that people in the developing world – often women and young girls – walk for water each day. This walk can be dangerous, and the water is often contaminated with life-threatening diseases.

On Saturday, May 6, 2017, 40,000 people from around the globe will join together to walk or run 6 kilometers to raise awareness of the global water crisis and support World Vision’s water initiatives through the World Vision Global 6K for Water. Each participant’s $50 registration fee supports World Vision’s water programs and each participant will receive a Global 6K for Water t-shirt, a race bib with a photo of a child he or she can sponsor, and a race medal in the mail.

Saoly, 18 demonstrates the traditional method for watering the garden plants. During the dry season, the family can maintain their garden because World Vision built a water irrigation system in the community. 

©2015 World Vision, photo by Laura Reinhardt

This spring, we invite you to share the following ways readers can take part in making a difference leading up to the Global 6K for Water (May 6, 2016):

• Become a Global 6K Host Site: Work together with your church, school, community center or run club to register as a host site (it’s free!) and spread the word about how fun and easy it is to support clean water programs around the world! Whether your goal is 10 or 100 people, World Vision will equip you with all the marketing materials, race day signage and staff support for a successful race day. If you can’t become a host site, considering running or walking with other Global 6K for Water participants  at a host site near you.

• Start a Global 6K Virtual Team: Invite friends and family all around the country to join your “team” even though you will each be walking or running from your own neighborhoods on race day. Even those who wish to participate individually, whether on a treadmill or around the neighborhood, can take part in a global effort to support clean water!

• Turn Coffee into Clean Water: Even small amounts of money can make a big difference for families around the world. Once a week, put the money that might normally be used to purchase your morning latte toward a “clean water fund.” Over the course of a year, you could set aside as much as $250 to support  World Vision’s water programs.

• Change a Life Through Child Sponsorship: Poverty is complex and rarely solved by one intervention. Sponsoring a child is a long-term way to get involved with World Vision and help a child – and his or her entire community – benefit from things like clean water through new or renovated wells, school fees and supplies, better education due to restored schools and teacher training, improved nutrition due to agricultural training, and healthcare clinics and immunizations.

• Become a Part of Team World Vision:The Global 6K for Water is just one event organized by Team World Vision, a group of passionate people who run, walk and race to help children get clean water. Join Team World Vision for support in reaching your own fitness goals while helping others around the world.

D256-0314-4: Nine-year-old Oolsth (not sure of spelling) writes to her Australian sponsor from the WV ADP Bayankhongor office, Mongolia. 

© 2015 World Vision, Jon Warren

World Vision believes the global water and sanitation crisis can be solved within our lifetime. World Vision provides a new person with clean water every 30 seconds as part of a 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.

To help reach your training goals, download  World Vision’s 6-Week Training Companion, full of insprirational thoughts to fuel your 6K training and keep the focus on your goal: Providing water for a community in need.

D400-1403-283: Don Lee, of Team World Vision, cheers on runners. Team World Vision supporters encourage runners between mile five and six of the 2015 Seattle Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, June 13. SUMMARY: 170 people ran for Team World Vision in the 2015 Seattle Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Saturday, June 13, 2015. The goal was to raise money to provide children in African communities with access to clean water. 

©2015 World Vision, Chris Huber

To learn more about the Global 6K for Water, visit:  http://www.teamworldvision.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=848&referrer=media. To learn more about World Vision’s water programs, visit:  https://www.worldvision.org/our-work/clean-water?campaign=108929307.