Why We Run

Today’s run was the best of the week for a number of reasons. It was my longest of the week (5 miles), it was in my favorite place to run (Edward N. Hines Park), and it completed the first week of my 18 week training. But better than all of that, I ran with my Team World Vision Detroit family. We are part of a much larger team that is running to raise money to provide clean water in Africa. In 2016 alone Word Vision’s water projects reached 4.6 million people with improved water access and 3.3 million people with improved hygiene. It is exciting to be a part of a team that is doing so much to alleviate disease and suffering in our world.

In spite of the efforts of World Vision and other organizations, 783 million people worldwide still do not have access to clean and safe water. 319 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa are without access to reliable drinking water sources. Think about this. The number of people who do not have access to clean and safe water is more than double the entire population of the United States. Nearly 1,000 children die every day from diseases caused by contaminated drinking water.

This is a problem that can be solved. There is clean water to be had and the technology exists to make it available. All that is needed if for people like us to step up and help. Just $50 provides clean water for life for 1 person. Team World Vision’s goal for the Chicago Marathon is to raise $2,500,000 to provide clean, safe water to 50,000 people. I have personally committed to raising $2,620 to provide water to 52 of those people. I am confident I will reach this goal, and excited to see how it all unfolds.