Walking for Water

Thought for the day

Having recently met with, and been inspired by, a dozen Laguna Beach high school students, I offered to help spread the word about their March 26 "Walking for Water" event.  

To learn more about the students' commitment to build freshwater wells in Africa and India, please read the following news release.  

Afterwards, if you are so inclined, I hope you will join with me in making a charitable donation to help underwrite their efforts.

Here's what the Laguna Beach Independent published Friday in its "Town Crier" section.

Laguna high school students walk for water

Laguna Beach has a history of being a "water wise" community, so it's not surprising 25 of Laguna's high school students have taken that motto to heart by "Walking for Water." Last year, the $100,000 they raised helped underwrite the costs of building 6 freshwater wells in West Africa and India. This year, organizers of the next walking event, which will be held on March 26 at the Laguna Beach High School track, hope to raise even more money.

"What would you do if you had to walk for hours every day just to fetch water, some of it contaminated, for yourself and your family?" high school senior Cleo Washer asks. "Sometimes you might have to climb steep hills, like Park Avenue here in town, or walk on damaged roads for miles in sweltering heat. Imagine how much easier, and healthier, a person's life would be if there was a freshwater well in their village," she adds.

"The "Walking for Water" project is a nonprofit organization with local roots here and in Virginia," founder Susan Hough of Laguna Beach reports. "I'm so proud of what so many high school students have been able to accomplish. None of the work in West Africa or India could have been possible without the proceeds from previous annual walks," Hough says.

Charitable donations to the March 26 walk, which begins at noon and ends at 3:00, will help pay for new wells in Togo, Africa.  

Supporters can register for the 5 or 10K walk and encourage friends and families to donate in their name or pledge support to those already signed up to walk.

"Families with young children are encouraged to attend the walk," Washer notes. "There will be face painting and games, plus opportunities to meet with the high school students who truly are making a difference in people's lives," she concludes.

"If you can't attend the walk, the students and I encourage you to help by donating to www.wisdomspring.org," Hough says.

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