BEAUFORT COUNTY WALK FOR WATER
Helping Make a Life-Transforming Change for Thousands of People
story by JEANNE REYNOLDS photos by PAUL NURNBERG
Most of us take water for granted. After all, in Beaufort County, we’re surrounded by oceans, rivers, estuaries and marshes. To paraphrase “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” we literally have water, water everywhere — but what if there wasn’t a drop to drink?
Thankfully, we don’t have that problem, but two billion people around the world do. In developing countries and areas hit by natural disasters, many people — mostly women and children — walk three miles a day to collect water for drinking, cooking and washing. Not only is the trip difficult and sometimes dangerous, the water they find often is contaminated and leads to water-related illnesses. In fact, Water Mission International reports someone dies from water-borne sickness every 37 seconds.
“Each of us in America use about 75 gallons of water daily,” says Nan Krueger, a retired public health nurse who’s played a key leadership role on the Walk for Water team since the event began nine years ago. “Many families walk miles daily to haul home just five gallons of water from the same water sources animals use as their bathtub.”
That five gallons of water must last the family all day, until they repeat the process the next day. Not only that, the time and effort spent collecting water prevents many children from attending school and adults from earning much-needed income from other occupations.
The Beaufort County Walk for Water strives to rewrite that story.
TAKING BIG STEPS FOR CHANGE
The Beaufort County Walk for Water promotes awareness of this global water crisis and raises money to provide sustainable, safe water around the world. The money goes directly to Water Mission, a nonprofit Christian engineering organization based in Charleston that builds safe water solutions in developing countries and disaster areas.
“The Walk for Water is a great way to educate the community about the need for safe water around the world and then DO something about it,” Nan says.
The “DO something” part is easy and simple. Participants pay a small fee (that includes an optional T-shirt) to register online as individuals or as part of a team of family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers or church members. On walk day, they join other community members to traverse three miles together, carrying small buckets they can partially fill with water at the halfway point to symbolize the daily walk of those without access to clean, safe water. Walkers also get a small taste of how difficult that task is, considering a five-gallon water container weighs more than 40 pounds.
Participation by Beaufort County residents, businesses and churches makes a life-changing difference for thousands of people in desperate need, according to Nan.
“The money the walk raises lifts up people for generations in communities around the world. As little as $50 provides one person ongoing access to safe, clean water, $500 can create latrine sanitation for a community, and about $1,000 can build solar panels for a power source. These are things most of us take for granted but make a transformational difference to those who don’t have them.”
MAKING A BIGGER SPLASH
The Walk for Water has overflowed in the past nine years to two locations, one on each side of the Broad River: Live Oaks Park in Port Royal on Sept. 13 and Wright Family Park in Bluffton on Sept. 20. Between the two walks, an estimated 1,000 people are expected to participate, raising a record $100,000.
Since 2001, Water Mission has used innovative technology and engineering expertise to provide access to safe water for more than eight million people in 60 countries. But “global” includes close to home, too. Water Mission’s disaster response team was almost immediately on-site in western North Carolina last fall to help those devastated by Hurricane Helene. These neighbors were some of the more than 10,000 people around the world Beaufort County’s Walk for Water funds have served over the past eight years.
“We’re privileged to have relatively safe water in the U.S.,” Nan says. “Everyone deserves that opportunity. Safe water saves lives.”
BEAUFORT COUNTY WALK FOR WATER
What: 3-mile walk to raise awareness and money for access to safe, clean water in communities around the world through Water Mission.
When and Where: 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 at Live Oaks Park in Port Royal and Saturday, Sept. 20 at Wright Family Park in Bluffton.
How Much: $25 for adults 18+, $10 for youths 5–17, free for kids 4 and under. Register by Aug. 13 to get a T-shirt and a $5 discount using the code EARLYBIRD.
More Info: Learn more and register at walkforwater.com/beaufort or call (843) 769-7395.
Follow: On Facebook and Instagram @BeaufortWalkforWater, and on Twitter #bftwalkforwater.
Sponsorship Information: Contact Bob Lasher at (843) 906-8118 or rlasher5519@gmail.com.
