HOW TO RACE
What: Race for Global Water 5K Run/Walk
When: 9 .m. Saturday, Aug. 6 (race day registration starts at 7:30 a.m.)
Where: Waterworks Park, 5133 Groh Lane, Fairfield
Cost: Pre-registration is $15; race day registration is $20 (add $5 for a race T-shirt, while supplies last)
More info: Online registration ends on Aug. 4. Race information, including a course map, can be found at www.runningtime.net.
Runners and walkers at Waterworks Park next weekend will exercise for a cause.
The 6th annual Race for Global Water 5K Run/Walk is set for Saturday morning, Aug. 6, at the city park where roughly 100 people are expected to either run or walk the 5K. And a bunch of kids are also expected to participate in a free kids fun run, said Kari Merrill, with the Hamilton to New Baltimore Ground Water Consortium. The consortium is presenting the race along with the Ohio AWWA Young Professional.
Online registration for the race at Waterworks Park on Groh Lane through runningtime.net for the run and walk ends Aug. 4. Pre-registration for the walk and run is $15 (and $20 for registration the day of the race) — add $5 if you want a race T-shirt.
The race is set to begin at 9 a.m. on Aug. 6, and race day registration begins at 7:30 a.m. at Waterworks Park.
The race benefits Water for People, a non-profit that provides safe water and sanitation for millions of people in nine countries.
The idea is to think and act globally while acting locally, Merrill said. During the race, and the events after the race, organizers will “emphasize the importance of protecting our local water resources.”
“There will be informational signs along the bike path to get people involved locally,” said Merrill. There’s also exhibitor booths, raffles and free activities for children.
Over the first five years, Merrill said Water For People has collectively received roughly $33,000 from Race for Global Water 5K in Fairfield. There’s no specific fundraising goal, she said, just being able to donate as much as possible.
Water For People was founded in 1991 by the American Water Works Association. The goal was to improve the quality of life for people in these developing countries by providing a sustainable source of drinking water, sanitation facilities and hygiene education programs.
According to WaterForPeople.org, 1.8 billion people around the world don't have access to safe water and 2.4 billion lack access to adequate sanitation. Every day women and children spend more than 4 hours walking for water, and hundreds of thousands of people die annually from water-related diseases.
“We want to see communities break free from the cycle of poverty and spend time growing, learning, and thriving, instead of walking for water and fighting off illness,” according to the website.
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