BEAUFORT COUNTY RESIDENTS RAISE $60,000 IN WALK FOR WATER

story by JEANNE REYNOLDS           photos by PAUL NURNBERG

More than 500 people from across Beaufort County took to the streets, parks, and trails in the Fifth Annual Beaufort County Walk for Water in October, raising funds expected to exceed $60,000 to fight the global water crisis.
Participants on nearly 30 teams, representing neighborhoods, churches, and businesses in Beaufort, Bluffton, Port Royal, Okatie, and neighboring islands, walked three miles to symbolize the walk millions of women and children in developing countries make daily to collect water that’s often contaminated. The event raises money for Water Mission, a Charleston-based Christian engineering organization that builds safe water solutions in developing countries and disaster areas.

“Access to clean, safe water is something we all take for granted, but 2 billion people around the world aren’t so fortunate,” said Jim Pickard, Beaufort County Walk for Water committee co-chair. “The money raised by this walk will make a life-changing difference for generations to come.”

The Beaufort County Walk for Water has raised approximately $270,000 over the past five years. “More than a third of the money this year came from business, civic, and church organization sponsors,” according to co-chair Robert Lasher. “We had a record number of sponsors this year,” he said. “We couldn’t generate this kind of major impact without them.”

It’s not too late to help. For more information or to donate,visit the website at walkforwater.com/beaufortco or call 843-769-7395.