Walk for Water - 2018

Walk for Water - 2018

The annual Walk for Water was held this morning at the Riverfront Park in North Charleston. Water Missions International's warehouse is on the old Navy base property and the walk took us right through their work site. 4,000 people gathered to raise funds for water purification treatment systems providing clean water around the world.

Walk for Water - Charleston 2017

RSF River Rats Team, Walk for Water 2017, Charleston, SC 

I have a special interest in the work of Water Missions International because who can't get behind the idea of clean drinking water? We can prevent so many diseases if we have pure water to drink and although we take it for granted it is a daily struggle in so many parts of the world. Years ago the hospital I work with sponsored a water purification system for a small hospital and community in Kenya and I was able to go to photograph the commissioning ceremony and see first hand the difference it made.

Each year I try to support the Walk for Water here in Charleston. Symbolically water buckets are provided which are filled with water halfway through the walk. Many thanks to Lauren Smith for leading our team efforts for Roper St. Francis Healthcare and to all of our teammates who walked this morning. They said over 5,000 people participated and the traffic fiasco led me to believe that was true! Well done folks!

Walking for fresh water

Walk for Water - 2016, Charleston, SC   

Saturday was the annual Walk for Water raising funds to provide water purification systems to countries in need or after disasters. The purification system is manufactured right here in Charleston at the Water Missions International facility started by George and Molly Green. Folks gathered at the Joe Riley stadium and walked through Hampton Park carrying buckets. The buckets are filled halfway along the route to symbolize the daily journey so many people make to get fresh water.

Walk for Water 2015

Walk for Water, Brittlebank Park, Charleston, S.C. 

I headed up to Brittlebank Park this morning for the annual Walk for Water. We are so proud that Water Missions International is based right here in Charleston and builds and provides water purification units for countries all over the world. Quite a few years ago I was actually lucky enough to travel to Kenya to see one of the units commissioned for a little hospital we had partnered with. It was the experience of a lifetime.

The Walk for Water raises money to provide clean water and the event grows each year! This was a new location and we circled Hampton Park filling buckets with clean water half way through the walk. I saw so many people I know at the event. Well done folks. You made a difference today.

 

Walk for Water 2014

Walk for Water, Charleston, S.C.

I had an early start this morning joining hundreds of other people at Cannon Park for the Walk for Water coordinated by Water Missions International. It is nice to be part of something that is as life changing as clean, pure water can be and we are particularly proud that this project began and is based right here in Charleston. More photos uploading here.

Water Missions International is a nonprofit Christian engineering organization providing sustainable safe water and sanitation solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas. Safe water is the source of life. It is the foundation for health, education and viable economies. Through the generous support of individuals, churches, our corporate partners and many others, Water Missions International has brought relief and hope to more than 2.4 million people across the globe.

Walk for Water 2013

Charleston Walk for Water, Charleston, S.C.

The rain held off just long enough for the 7th annual Walk for Water sponsored by Water Missions International to be a grand success. Raising money to provide safe water around the world, walkers carried empty buckets and filled them up half walk through the walk. I saw lots of familiar faces, co workers and friends. Thanks to everyone who supports this cause.

I was one of the lucky ones who has seen this put into action when I went to Kenya a few years ago to document the installation of a water purification system for a small hospital and community. It has been grand hearing about the different clean drinking water has made.

Pie in the face - for a cause

Charleston, S.C.

Our Physical Therapists allowed their patients to make donations to Water Missions International for the privilege of throwing a pie in their a face. They counted up their donations today and three of them each took a pie in the face. Good fun for a good cause.

The Charleston Walk for Water is coming up at the end of this month. Join the fun at the Walk for Water of consider making a donation: Walk for Water

Walking for Water

Walk for Water, Charleston, S.C. 2012

I am a strong supporter of Water Missions International. I love their very practical water purification system that can turn muddy, contaminated water into pure drinking water. Love it. A few years ago the health system I work for sponsored the shipment and installation of one of the units for a small hospital in Eldoret, Kenya and I got to go to document it.

Today was the annual fundraising Walk for Water in Charleston. The skies were cloudy but we were spared the rain and a cheerful crowd started in Canon Park carrying empty buckets and filled them up with murky water at White Point Gardens to carry back and get some idea of what most of the world has to do on a daily basis. It's a great cause and I am so proud that it is based right here in Charleston. They welcome you to come and see the units being made if you are interested. The enthusiasm is contagious!

Find your photos at this link: Walk for Water 2012

 

Walk for Water 2011

Charleston, S.C.

It was so cool to see a real Maasai tribesman at the Water Missions International Walk for Water this morning. Everyone had to have their picture taken with him and he joined the festivities leading the walk through downtown Charleston with George and Molly Green.

The goal of the walk is to raise funds and awareness of the water purification systems made by Water Missions International and shipped overseas. We are extraordinarily proud that this international company that saves so many lives is based right here in Charleston.

We had the most glorious day for the walk which started at Cannon Park and ended up at the Battery where people could fill a bucket with water to carry back. Cute kids, dogs, girl scouts, the Mayor, the Piggly Wiggly Pig, a Maasai tribesman and a successful fund raising event - what more could you ask for? Many thanks to David Dixon and Amanda Doosshe for leading our team and to my blog friend contributors!

More photos here.

I did get to meet other photographers who were helping out at the event and caught Alyona with walkers who were hamming it up for her photo op below!

WMI Walk for Water

Eldoret, Kenya

Water Missions International will hold their third Walk for Water on March 19th at Cannon Park in downtown Charleston. Three years ago my hospital raised the money to install one of their water purification systems for the Plateau Mission Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya and I was fortunate to go to document the commissioning ceremony.

We've kept in touch with the hospital - raised money to renovate their maternity ward, sent books to the local school and received letters from the doctor letting us know what a difference clean pure water has made to the hospital admissions. It was one of the coolest things I have ever been part of.

You can be part of it too! Think about joining the Walk for Water in some way. Register to participate, raise some funds or sponsor a walker. What makes more sense than clean water?

Water Missions International is based right here in Charleston on Savannah Highway and welcomes visitors to tour their warehouse where volunteers are busy putting together the purification systems. Consider yourself invited!

The gift for the folks who have everything...

Water Missions International, Charleston, S.C.

Yes! Buy them an outhouse! I's quirky, original, practical and fun. For a $100 donation to Water Missions International you can have a Sanitary Pit Latrine installed in a country where it is desperately needed.

Sanitary Pit Latrine: The Healthy Latrine is a low-cost yet sturdy, robust, aesthetic and durable type of construction developed by WMI as part of a state wide pilot Project in the Department of Colon, Honduras and used around developing countries to provide access to adequate sanitation facilities to needy families and households in rural and sub-urban settlements lacking any other type of sewage facilities.

This Latrine was developed to improve health and living conditions on children and adults because it is a well-known fact that about three quarters of poor families in developing countries lack these types of facilities. Lack of proper sanitation represents more than half the sources of gastrointestinal diseases caused by waterborne bacteria, viruses and worms.

Water Mission Internationl's primary project is building water purification systems. That is how I met them and got involved, eventually traveling to Kenya to document the installation of a system for a little hospital in Eldoret. When I was touring their facility on Savannah Highway I spotted this outhouse made out of poured concrete in the corner and was enchanted.

I grew up using outhouses and love this solution since it uses a gallon of back flush water from the purification system. Neato!

Seriously. I bought one last year for Christmas and intend to do it again this year. It would be the perfect fun/serious gift to give in people's names. I tried to talk WMI into personalizing them but they still suspect I am nuts. Wouldn't it be great to have a picture of your outhouse with your name on it? I can see a line of Joany Pony Potties. I'd probably go visit them.

Here is the donation link or just give them a call. The latrine is listed in their holiday catalog.

Pony up for a holiday potty!

Home again, home again....

Warren St., Charleston, S.C.

Safely home from St. Louis. Uploading hundreds of pictures, catching up on emails and watching trash day time tv. Charleston has cooled down and is bright and sunny to welcome me home. I've got my sheets in the wash and the windows open.

I walked this morning and was pleased to see all the construction action going on at one of my favorite houses on Warren St.

Thank you all for clicking to vote at the AHA Moment site. It's a weird thing to ask people to do but Water Missions is such a great cause!

Time to do some blog hopping to see what y'all have been up to while I've been away.

Vote for AHA moment

AHA Airstream, Charleston, S.C.

Last June I was contacted by the Mutual of Omaha "AHA moment" folks and invited to come to Marion Square to record an "AHA Moment". This photo is from that day.

They went all over the country and apparently are now showcasing some of their favorites and asking people to vote for ones that will be featured on tv. I am terrible in front of a camera, get nervous and talk too fast BUT the cause was Water Mission's International water purification systems. So, if you are inclined, I would appreciate your vote. It might bring attention to this great charity.

It is simple click to vote one time: Click here to vote.