Mar 22

Mar 22 Ready to Run! #6kforWater

I was compensated by World Vision for my time in writing this post. All opinions are my own.

Doing reviews for TheBetterMom.com has been fun. I enjoy trying new products or services for other families and giving them an honest description of how things work, read, sound, or taste. This review is going to require a little more of me, though. I will be running. Yes, you read that right. I will be running a 6k as part of my involvement with World Vision’s #6kForWater campaign! You would think that since I am not a runner, this would seem a little laborious, but actually I am totally stoked for a physical challenge! I am looking forward to trying something new with my kids for a GREAT cause.

Why not a 5k? Well, there is something significant about the 6k as you may have guessed. The distance of 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) is the average distance that people in the developing world- often women and young girls - walk for water each day. This walk can be dangerous, and the water is often contaminated with life-threatening diseases.

As I think about this statistic, it reminds me of when we first moved into the parsonage. At the parsonage the water tasted kind of salty to me. There was nothing dangerous (to my knowledge) about the water, but our family had a hard time drinking it. It just didn’t taste quite right. We currently fill up 5 gallon water bottles at the grocery store. Now as I write these words to you, I am grieved. It gives me a whole new perspective on the value of clean water. I’m sure the water at the parsonage would be cherished by anyone from a developing country.

On Saturday May 6, 2017, people from around the globe will walk or run 6 kilometers to support World Vision’s water initiatives through the World Vision 6k for Water.

The Global 6k for Water is organized by Team World Vision, a group of passionate people who run, walk, and race to help children get clean water. Team World Vision’s water projects run in harmony with World Vision’s work in other key areas of development: health, education, food, and economic development. This approach tackles the root causes of poverty, enabling children to experience fullness of life.

Team World Vision was founded in 2006, and since then, they have helped more than 30,000 people cross the finish lines to raise $30 million for World Visions work around the world. If you would like more information on Team World Vision, please click here.

Up until today, I hadn’t really known much about Team World Vision. Our family does support a World Vision child, but I have never ran any races with World Vision. I think my sister and a few friends did either a marathon or half marathon with Team World Vision. It is neat to find out some more information about who they are and why they run!

So, are you ready for some registration details? I am!

Each participant’s registration fee of $50 supports World Vision’s water programs. After registration, (if you choose to join me) you will receive a World Vision Global 6k for Water t-shirt, a race bib with a photo of a child you can sponsor, and a race medal in the mail. I have to say, I’m pretty excited about the t-shirt. Most t-shirts I’ve ever worn that were race shirts were because I bought them at Goodwill and I never actually ran the race! This will be a legit-earned race shirt! Score!

There are many ways to get involved:

Become a host site: Work together with your church, school, community center or run club to register as a host site (it’s free) and spread the word about how fun and easy it is to support clean water programs around the world! Whether your goal is 10 people or 100 people, World Vision will equip you with all the marketing materials, race day signage and staff support for a successful race day. Click here for more details!

Join a local host site: Walk or run with other Global 6k for Water participants at a host site near you. Find a local host site here!

Start a virtual team: Invite your friends and family all around the country to join your “team” even though you will each be walking or running from your own neighborhoods on race day.

Individual race: Walk or run the Global 6k for Water from your own front door- whether on a treadmill or around the neighborhood with your kids, you’ll be taking part in a global effort to support clean water!

Just a note: Thanks to World Vision’s generous donors, the registration fee for kids 15 and under is $25 which is a 50% discount!

So, the first step is registration, but the next step after that is for me to start getting ready for the race. This couldn’t come at a better time. The weather is just starting to get nicer here in Michigan. (It was just getting nice when I was writing this post, but here I am a week later, out running and it has snowed again!) Since I am not used to running, I am going to start rollerblading to acclimate to the cardiovascular strain and then I’ll slowly start phasing into a little more jogging each week. I will be back with another post after I start training!