The Dow Live Earth Run for Water is a series of 6km run/walks (the average distance many women and children walk every day to get water) will be held in Atlanta on Sunday, April 18, culminating with a water education village and live musical performances by Rob Thomas, Pete Wentz and Angelique Kidjo. The Atlanta event is one of 80 taking place in cities across 40 countries to raise awareness and funds that will help solve the global water crisis. The events will be held in Pemberton Place, adjacent to the World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium.
Funds raised from the events will benefit Global Water Challenge, a coalition of non profit organizations working to bring clean, safe drinking water to millions of people worldwide. This includes innovative projects that provide clean drinking water to communities in Haiti, Central America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia. GWC has invested in previous projects with donations going towards improving access to water in schools and supporting local entrepreneurs who provide market-based solutions.
Beginning today, Live Earth will donate $1 for each U.S. registration received between now and March 23 for a special Haiti relief fund through GWC coalition partners CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Population Services, and UNICEF to implement safe drinking water programs on the ground in Haiti. People interested in supporting the Haiti relief fund should register for a Dow Live Earth Run for Water run/walk event in the U.S. before April 1st via The Active Network at http://liveearth.org/run, using promotional code HAITI.
“The money raised from these events will help thousands of people in the developing world get access to clean drinking water. We look forward to investing these funds and impacting lives,” said Paul Faeth, President of Global Water Challenge.
Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper is dedicated solely to protecting and restoring the Chattahoochee River Basin – the drinking water source for 3.5 million people. Established in 1994, UCR works to advocate and secure the preservation and stewardship of the Chatahoochee River, its tributaries and watershed, for the people, fish and wildlife that depend on the river system. The Chattahoochee is considered the most used water resource in Georgia, and is one of the most threatened rivers in the United States.
This event will raise awareness about the threats the Chattahoochee faces as well as helping to fund UCR’s work in the field, patrolling the river system, monitoring water quality, educating our community, and more,” said Sally Bethea, Executive Director and Riverkeeper for UCR.
For more about the Live Earth Run, visit http://liveearth.org/en/