Teen coordinates 5K fundraiser to help others find access to clean water
Charity: water is a nonprofit organization bringing clean water to developing nations. Their mission is simple and ambitious: clean, safe drinking water for everyone on the planet. One in eight people do not have access to clean water.
Preston Goodie just completed her junior year at New Philadelphia High School. Having learned about the unavailability of clean water to so many people, she felt compelled to do something to help.
“I came across charity: water’s website and started looking through all of their pictures and videos...and it just absolutely devastated me. I just can’t believe that people are forced to drink that kind of water, take baths in that dirty water or give their children bottles of brown water, knowing it contains potentially deathly diseases. I just don’t think that anyone should ever be put in that position. It broke my heart to see that happening. When I heard the statistic that one in eight people in the world don’t have access to clean water that amazed me. In the U.S. we have clean water just feet away from us at all times. And it’s hard to even fathom having to walk hundreds of miles, only to find dirty and diseased water. We really do take our clean water for granted.”
Goodie is coordinating a fundraising event that will include a 5K run, a two-mile walk and a community breakfast. The event will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 201 West High Avenue, New Philadelphia August 13. Donations are suggested for the run, walk and breakfast to help Goodie reach her goal of raising $5,000 for charity: water. “The organization, charity: water, would directly use this money to construct a safe, clean water well in a community in a developing nation,” said Goodie.
“I think our community does a great job of contributing toward causes that improve our area. However, I feel that this is a tremendous opportunity for our community to come together and impact the greater world. I really want this to be a community event.”
Goodie has opened a bank account in the name of Running Water 5K and has received a tax ID number legitimizing her fundraising efforts. One local business donated $500 toward her $5,000 goal.
“I’ve always dreamed of doing really big things. As a young kid I dreamed of opening homeless shelters, donating money to different charities, going on mission trips, etc. As I’ve gotten older, I have continually planned on doing something big to help other people when I was older. But then, it finally hit me….why wait? We aren’t guaranteed anything, so there is no better time than the present to do what your heart desires. My heart consistently desires to help other people. It’s what I love doing, it’s what I’m passionate about. So, instead of waiting for something to happen, or for a great opportunity to arise, I decided to finally make something happen and create an opportunity for myself. Once I came across charity: water, their energy and passion radiated and sealed the deal,” said Goodie.
Unsafe water and a lack of basic sanitation cause 80 percent of all disease and kill more people than all forms of violence, including war, according to charity: water. Ninety percent of the 42,000 deaths that occur every week from unsafe water and unhygienic living conditions are children under the age of 5. Many of these diseases are preventable. The UN predicts that one-tenth of the global disease burden can be prevented simply by improving water supply and sanitation.
Goodie has developed a blog and a Facebook page to reach as many people as possible in her fundraising effort. Her blog can be viewed at http://nprunningwater.wordpress.com. Registration forms can be found on the blog. Those registering before August 5 will receive a T-shirt.
Donations are accepted and should be made payable to Running Water 5K and mailed to 201 West High Avenue, New Philadelphia 44663.
To learn more about charity: water, visit the website at http://www.charitywater.org/about/.
Preston Goodie just completed her junior year at New Philadelphia High School. Having learned about the unavailability of clean water to so many people, she felt compelled to do something to help.
“I came across charity: water’s website and started looking through all of their pictures and videos...and it just absolutely devastated me. I just can’t believe that people are forced to drink that kind of water, take baths in that dirty water or give their children bottles of brown water, knowing it contains potentially deathly diseases. I just don’t think that anyone should ever be put in that position. It broke my heart to see that happening. When I heard the statistic that one in eight people in the world don’t have access to clean water that amazed me. In the U.S. we have clean water just feet away from us at all times. And it’s hard to even fathom having to walk hundreds of miles, only to find dirty and diseased water. We really do take our clean water for granted.”
Goodie is coordinating a fundraising event that will include a 5K run, a two-mile walk and a community breakfast. The event will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 201 West High Avenue, New Philadelphia August 13. Donations are suggested for the run, walk and breakfast to help Goodie reach her goal of raising $5,000 for charity: water. “The organization, charity: water, would directly use this money to construct a safe, clean water well in a community in a developing nation,” said Goodie.
“I think our community does a great job of contributing toward causes that improve our area. However, I feel that this is a tremendous opportunity for our community to come together and impact the greater world. I really want this to be a community event.”
Goodie has opened a bank account in the name of Running Water 5K and has received a tax ID number legitimizing her fundraising efforts. One local business donated $500 toward her $5,000 goal.
“I’ve always dreamed of doing really big things. As a young kid I dreamed of opening homeless shelters, donating money to different charities, going on mission trips, etc. As I’ve gotten older, I have continually planned on doing something big to help other people when I was older. But then, it finally hit me….why wait? We aren’t guaranteed anything, so there is no better time than the present to do what your heart desires. My heart consistently desires to help other people. It’s what I love doing, it’s what I’m passionate about. So, instead of waiting for something to happen, or for a great opportunity to arise, I decided to finally make something happen and create an opportunity for myself. Once I came across charity: water, their energy and passion radiated and sealed the deal,” said Goodie.
Unsafe water and a lack of basic sanitation cause 80 percent of all disease and kill more people than all forms of violence, including war, according to charity: water. Ninety percent of the 42,000 deaths that occur every week from unsafe water and unhygienic living conditions are children under the age of 5. Many of these diseases are preventable. The UN predicts that one-tenth of the global disease burden can be prevented simply by improving water supply and sanitation.
Goodie has developed a blog and a Facebook page to reach as many people as possible in her fundraising effort. Her blog can be viewed at http://nprunningwater.wordpress.com. Registration forms can be found on the blog. Those registering before August 5 will receive a T-shirt.
Donations are accepted and should be made payable to Running Water 5K and mailed to 201 West High Avenue, New Philadelphia 44663.
To learn more about charity: water, visit the website at http://www.charitywater.org/about/.
Published: June 12, 2011
