Local Athletes Run 6K to Provide Clean Water in Rural Kenya

CHICAGO (October 30, 2014) — Local Chicagoland runners will take to the streets this weekend to run not 5K, not 10K, but 6K as part of a national effort to raise money for clean water and sanitation systems in rural Kenya. The event, hosted by World Vision, takes place November 1 at 9 a.m. at Montrose Harbor in Chicago.

“5K is a pretty standard distance for a fun run, but that extra kilometer is significant,” says Michael Forsberg, with Team World Vision, a network of endurance athletes who raise money for clean water projects overseas. “It’s the average distance people – usually women and children – in the developing world walk every day to gather the water their families need to survive.”

The cost for the event — $50 per person – also holds symbolic significance.

“If you do the math, the cost to build and maintain these water and sanitation systems averages out to about $50 per person,” says Forsberg. “So the registration fee will provide clean water for one person for the rest of her life!”

Globally, nearly 748 million people lack access to clean water. Women and children often walk miles every day to gather water that, often, isn’t even safe to drink. World Vision is the largest non-government provider of clean water in the developing world.  In fact, World Vision reaches one new person with clean water every 30 seconds.

Registration for the race is still open at www.teamworldvision.org/6k

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About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization conducting relief, development, and advocacy activities in its work with children, families, and their communities in nearly 100 countries to help them reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit www.WorldVision.org/media-center/ or on Twitter @WorldVisionUSA.

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