Join me on World Water Day (March 22, 2015) as I run/walk Team WorldVision’s virtual 6K for Water in North Atlanta.
6K is the average distance that people in Africa have to walk for water. On World Water Day, thousands of people across neighborhoods, city streets, and country roads will be walking and running 6 Kilometers (3.72 miles) for children in Africa.
When you sign up, Team WorldVision will send you a t-shirt and a race bib with a photo of a child that will get clean water from your registration. This is your chance to invite your whole family to make a difference regardless of age. If you are in Atlanta and want to join myself and others look for the “North Atlanta – Big Creek Greenway” team when you register at http://www.TeamWorldVision.org/6k.
I’ll never forget the first time that I saw this picture of a child in Sudan that was trying to reach a feeding center. It was almost 10 years after this picture was taken that I first received it by way of email from one of my friends. He like many who had experienced the photo was in shock and felt the need to spread the word, that this was happening in our world. So, he sent a copy to me. This picture had a profound impact on my heart. The thing that surprised me was how I initially chose to deal with the picture. My initial reaction was one of anger and shock…
“this is terrible, how can we let this happen in our world”.
Mysecondreactionwasto compartmentalize and depersonalize the situation…
“there is nothing I can do about it, this terrible picture is a result of evil people who are being allowed to steal from children and families without anyone fighting back”.
I was too caught up in trying to solve the whole problem and was overwhelmed by the need and so I sought the safety of blaming others for the problem. I was wrong. This picture is not a rare event that only happened 20 years ago. This picture is happening all over today and we can help. More amazingly, to help I don’t have to move my family to Sudan or any other part of the world. Trustworthy humanitarian organizations like World Vision are filling the gap between your home and the field where children and families are suffering.
This is personal,and I am running with a vision. In 2013 I learned about Team World Vision, an extension of World Vision that helps to engage the community in taking steps to raise awareness of the needs and raising funds to meet the need.
Here is my challenge, don’t seek comfort when you hear of the needs in our world. Seek ways to help, join me in getting involved with the solution. You may not be able to solve all of the world’s problems; but, together if we each carry the part that we can carry we will make a significant impact on the lives of those who are neglected by their governments and communities.
I need your help, share this, comment on it and let’s work together to raise awareness and help meet the needs for funds. You may still be tempted to ask “If I help one or two people what difference will it make” and please challenge that thought by remembering that it makes all the difference in the world to the person that receives your help.
Join the team, donate to the team or find another way to get involved. Make this personal.
activeHOGUE 
