SULTAN — On a sunny spring day in a city surrounded by Cascade Range peaks, more than 200 people took time out of their weekend for an event to benefit people thousands of miles away.
The fundraiser, sponsored by Sultan’s Crosswater Community Church, was called Walk for Water. The goal was to raise money for projects to provide clean and safe drinking water to communities that need it.
Cathy Day, who assists with the children’s ministry, said she got the idea for having the walk after reading about another church which sponsored a similar event. Many people in developing countries have to walk up to eight miles to get water, she said. And it’s usually women and children who have to make the trip.
The money raised will go to New York-based charity:water. The organization, founded in 2006, has paid for more than 16,000 clean water projects in 24 countries, bringing clean water to 5.2 million people, according to Kaitlyn Jankowski, a manager for the nonprofit. Some $38 million has been donated to charity:water through 32,000 money-raising efforts in the U.S. and internationally, she said.
The local fundraising event was held April 18 on the Sultan High School track. Hand-made signs were posted to remind participants of the importance of the cause: “Every minute a child dies of water-related disease,” and “748 million people live without water.”
Darci Murphy, a health teacher at Sultan High School, brought her twin 5-year-olds, Tillman and Landry, to the event. “All sorts of illnesses are related to the lack of clean water,” she said. “It’s important to think of the bigger picture than your neighborhood, state or nation.”
Church member Joie Jarvis said that sometimes children in developing countries can’t attend school because they’re spending their time walking to get the family’s water.
Water is something “we take so for granted here in the U.S.,” she said. The cause “really touched me. I felt like I needed to participate and help get one more well dug.”
Michaela Moody, 10, was lugging a white pail filled with water as she made her way around the track. It was a reminder how people in Africa have to carry jugs of water each day, she said.
Mike Gomes said he was participating in the event at the urging of his wife, Tina Gomes. Both are church members. “We were talking about money today, and how much we have compared to other people,” Tina Gomes said.
The goal was to raise $6,000. Participants met the goal and more. At least $9,300 was raised, Day said, “and donations are still coming in.”
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.
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