Londoner wants help Quenching Kenya’s Thirst

Abbie Lumani is a 16 year old Oakridge student who has created the first annual Picture This: QUENCHING KENYA’S THIRST 5 & 10KM Run/Walk in Gibbons Park on Sunday July 8, 2012 at 8:15am.

Last summer I spent three weeks in Kenya, Africa learning about the heartbreaks and struggles that Kenyan’s face daily; situations that wouldn’t even cross a North Americans mind.  One of those things is having to walk for water.  As easy as that sounds in words, I will break it down step by step to share with you just how hard walking for water is each day.

Mama Purity and Mama Rose (two local mama’s in a small village called Osenetoi, located in the Maasai Mara- Reserves of Kenya) walked myself as well as 31 other volunteers to their closest water source.  After a 5km trek, we were brought to a mud pit, where I was told this brown, algae infested water is what they use to drink, bathe, and cook with.  Clean was the last thought that crossed my mind.

Once we filled our 20 litre jerry cans and walked the 5km’s back to their home, we were greeted by 10 mamas and daughters singing and dancing for us, as a thank you; they did not have to make any water trips for that day.  We then got to ask questions about their life, and they got to ask us questions about ours.  One of their questions being “How far do your parents walk each day for water?” Mama Purity’s voice shattered through me like a knife.  I couldn’t believe that I had never even taken the time to realize how lucky I am to walk 5 steps to the tap, fill up my cup however high I wanted with cold refreshing, sanitary water, then end up throwing the remains down the sink.  I can tell you I treat water much differently now.

As a result of my experience, I started to think of ideas, ideas that became a big goal, a dream even, and now less than a year later, that dream, is becoming a reality.

July 8th 2012 is the first annual Picture This- QUENCHING KENYA’S THIRST, a 5 and 10km Road Race in Gibbons Park.  My goal for this year is to have a minimum of 200 runners participate while raising $5000 and with the help of my friends and family, I believe this goal is achievable.  All pledges and proceeds will be donated to Free The Children for a clean water project in Kenya, Africa.  New Balance is the Corporate Sponsor, so if you wish to learn more about this tremendous cause please visit me on their website www.newbalancelondon.com under the events tab!

More information on the event can be found at www.facebook.com/pages/Picture-This-Quenching-Kenyas-Thirst/167590140015074

NutritionRx is a proud sponsor of this event!