The 2008 Run for the Water 10-mile, 5K and Kid’s K will be held in Austin on November 9, 2008. The 2007 Run For the Water was named “Best New Race” in Austin by Austin Runner Magazine, and race committee members are working to make this year’s event even better.

The Run for the Water benefits the Gazelle Foundation and will assist the foundation with fundraising and awareness within the running community. This year’s event is being produced by Gazelle Foundation volunteers and 100% of the proceeds directly benefit the Foundation. Race committee members fully expect to use the same highly-praised course as last year; a mix of flat streets and rolling hills with a downtown start and finish.

Sponsorships are available. Please contact us for more information.

For most of us, clean drinking water is seconds away simply by going to the sink and turning on the tap. But for a majority of people in Burundi, Africa, clean water is far from reality. The accompanying video captures a daily ritual for Burundians fortunate to collect water from an obsolete well heavily damaged during years of war. Most of their countrymen collect their water from rivers and creeks shared by farm animals.

Burundi is located in east-central Africa and boarders Kenya and Rwanda. A mountainous country, Burundi relies heavily on agriculture for its economy. Most Burundians still make daily trips to a river and collect water in buckets or jugs. They then carry these by foot back to their homes for drinking, cooking and cleaning. With no purification or plumbing most Burundians have little assurance that their water is clean and safe to drink. Public health issues abound, but could improve dramatically through access to safe, reliable water sources.

Deep water wells can cost from $20,000 to $25,000 and serve up to 3000 people. The Gazelle Foundation’s initial efforts are to fund water well projects in Burundi. Please read our African Water Well white paper for more information.