The 10th annual Run for Water event, held Sunday in Abbotsford at Mill Lake Park, smashed its fundraising record, raising a projected $450,000 to build drinking water wells in Ethiopia.
The money will build wells that will bring clean water to 25,000 people, the run’s executive director, Peg Peters, said. The charity will also build a new school for 800 children in Freselem in northern Ethiopia.
Both the wells and school will be named after Letisha Reimer, the 13-year-old girl who was stabbed to death in a random attack last fall at Abbotsford Senior Secondary. Reimer participated in the event in years past and her family partnered with Run for Water in her memory.
Reimer’s parents and siblings will travel to Ethipia in October to inaugurate the well and school in Freselem.
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“The whole city has come together to support Letisha and Letisha’s family,” Peters said.
This year’s yet unfinalized tally far exceeds last year’s record total of approximately $300,000
“We are blown away by the response from this community,” Peters said. “It’s just a testimony to how incredibly generous the people are in the Lower Mainland.”
Roughly 4,000 people participated in the 5 km, 10 km, half marathon and trail run events.
Today's @RunforWater was a huge success,exec.dir. Peg Peters said. Projected record $450,000 raised to build wells in Ethiopia #Abbotsford pic.twitter.com/BsH863fkSh
— Kelvin (@KelvinGawley) May 28, 2017
@RunforWater Money was raised in Letisha Reimer's name. She was killed in a random stabbing at #Abbotsford Senior Secondary last year. pic.twitter.com/Od63qcUj4x
— Kelvin (@KelvinGawley) May 28, 2017
@RunforWater Some runners looked very happy to have reached the finish line. @RunforWater #Abbotsford pic.twitter.com/MLh8iSLsu3
— Kelvin (@KelvinGawley) May 28, 2017
@RunforWater The 25+ degree weather took its toll on many participants. @RunforWater #Abbotsford pic.twitter.com/grLUg4iMTA
— Kelvin (@KelvinGawley) May 28, 2017
@RunforWater But there were some creative and funny signs along the route, to keep them motivated. @RunforWater #Abbotsford pic.twitter.com/qhjDSmXByx
— Kelvin (@KelvinGawley) May 28, 2017
@RunforWater With supporters like these, even I could run 5km! #Abbotsford pic.twitter.com/B73NwZ9G3G
— Kelvin (@KelvinGawley) May 28, 2017