Debut of Minden Water Walkers 6K event

 

By Darren Lum

Going for a walk with the Minden Water Walkers will improve lives, said pastor David Johnson of the Minden Bible Church.

The
six-kilometre walk on Saturday, Aug. 3 is aiming to raise $1,000 and is
a partnership between the Minden church and World Vision Canada. World
Vision 6K events have been held across 17 countries since May 4.

Every $50 raised helps to provide clean drinking water for one person for a year.
“If
we can raise $1,000 we could take care of 20 people and provide water
for a year for them. That could be a well … we can do something good
and be a blessing for somebody somewhere,” he said.  

Over the years members of the congregation have travelled around the world with World Vision Canada bringing help to communities

The
cost for registration is a minimum of $10. Children 13 and under are
free to participate. Every participant receives a Minden Water Walkers
6K badge.

The church has worked with World Vision Canada on child sponsorship in the past.
The added benefit of the event is getting people involved, he said. 

There
are 844 million people around the world who lack access to safe
drinking water, a church press release reads. The average distance
people walk for water is six kilometres. In developing countries
children will walk six times a day for water. This was the basis for the
distance and the chosen route, which starts and ends at the Minden
Bible church, located at 177 Bobcaygeon Road in Minden, takes
participants along Bobcaygeon Road and the Gull River and back.

“Can’t get a better walk than that in this town,” Johnson said.

On-site registration and check-in is at 10 a.m. The walk starts 10:30 a.m.

With close to 25 pre-registered participants, halfway to the participation goal of 50, the event is being well received.

“This
is the first time that it’s happened in Minden and the community has
really responded,” he said. Local businesses have lent their support by
donating prizes.
At the event, he said, there will be water cans with
and without water to get a sense of what some people around the world
have to carry to transport water.

The
Minden church invites people to return there a day later, starting at
10:30 a.m. where a free concert and a barbecue will be held.

Johnson welcomes everyone to come out and join him.

He hopes the walk will become a regular event.