The No. 1 ranked American marathon runner in 2009, a nine-time Olympic gold medalist and a professional athlete and fashion model are among the latest supporters teaming up with Live Earth in support of the Dow Live Earth Run for Water, aimed at helping solve the world water crisis. Athletes Kara Goucher, Carl Lewis and Jenny Fletcher have announced their participation in the April 18, 2010, events, which will feature a series of 6 km run/walks (the average distance many women and children walk every day to get water), concerts and water education activities taking place in countries around the world.
“I am honored to be taking part in the Dow Live Earth Run for Water event,” Goucher said. “As a woman, I find it distressing that millions of women and children around the world walk 6 km each and every day to fetch safe, clean drinking water for their families. As a runner, I’m privileged to be able to share my talent and passion to raise awareness for such an important issue.”
Water scarcity is an issue affecting countries, communities and families all over the world. One in eight people do not have access to safe, clean drinking water. Eighty-eight percent of diarrheal cases worldwide are linked to inadequate and unsafe water. These cases result in 1.5 million deaths each year, mostly among children under five. In these areas, women and children are forced to walk 6 km (3.7 miles) each day to secure water that is likely unsuitable for drinking.
“Committing to participate in the Dow Live Earth Run for Water is something everyone, everywhere can do,” Lewis said. “With every step, the Dow Live Earth Run for Water will empower the global community to get fit, while taking action to help solve this important environmental issue.”
Even the most novice of runners are encouraged to run in a Dow Live Earth Run for Water run/walk in their community. All participants will receive a free online ActiveTrainer plan to help them prepare for the event. Other ways people can get involved is to organize a run/walk through the Friends of Live Earth program, save water in the home and local community through conservation efforts, give money to support clean, safe water projects and speak up by signing the Live Earth petition to add water as a basic human right to the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights.
