Walk for Water raising thousands for developing countries in need

BEAUFORT, S.C. (WSAV) – Two billion people around the world do not have access to safe water, and some have to walk as far as 3 miles a day just to collect it for their families.

One group in the Lowcountry is hoping to help with the Walk for Water, which has led to almost $500,000 in the four years it has existed.

The money goes to developing countries for better access to fresh and clean water for drinking, cooking and cleaning.

The idea of the walk is to put yourself in their shoes; go to a designated water source and carry back as much water as possible.

“According to the EPA, the average American household uses 300 gallons of water a day,” said James Pickard with Walk for Water. “People in rural Africa will carry a jerry can or a bucket on their head with 5, 6 gallons of water in it a mile and a half home, and that’s their water for the day. You flush the toilet, you use at least one gallon of water.”

If you would like to walk or make a donation Walk for Water’s goal is $100,000. The cost is only $25 and all proceeds go to the Water Mission project.

“The water they get probably came from some watering hole or something and take it home and hopefully run through a rag and then boil it and then you can actually, you know, drink it safely. No, they don’t do that. They just drink it as it comes out. Which is why I think they say 30% of the hospital beds in developing countries are occupied by people suffering from waterborne illnesses,” Pickard explained.

There are two walks for water coming up. For more information or to donate, visit here.