Walk 4 Water—

Fundraiser, Educational Event At FFH Saturday Morning

By Shannon Hicks

David Plaue believes that it is every person’s right to have access to clean drinking water.

The Newtown resident has been so affected by recent fundraising efforts for Drink Water To Give Water that about four months ago he left his former career in sales and moved into the nonprofit world to follow this belief. Today Mr Plaue is an employee for DigDeep Water, a Los Angeles-based human rights organization that defends the human right to water for all people, and is hoping Newtown and other residents of the region will join him this weekend for a one-day event.

An event called Walk 4 Water will take place at Fairfield Hills on Saturday, October 20, rain or shine.

“People who have to walk for their water don’t get the day off when it rains,” Mr Plaue recently pointed out.

A three-mile walk around the campus — representing the average distance women and children in Africa typically must walk each day in order to retrieve water — will have participants experiencing both the distance walked and the weight of water once it is obtained. During the first half of the walk participants will be empty handed, and then during the second half walkers will be carrying two two-liter bottles filled with water.

“Walkers can carry they water any way they want on their bodies for 1.5 miles,” said Mr Plaue, whose job title for DigDeep is inspiration officer. “This is a fundraising but also educational event for people to experience one aspect of water poverty.”

Children and those unable to walk the full distance or unable to carry the full weight of the water will still be welcomed, Mr Plaue said. Attendees can register and begin fundraising in advance, register that morning, or even attend without participating in the walk.

Registration will open at 8:30, and participants can begin walking as soon as they are checked in, Mr Plaue said this week. He expects the full walk to take 60–90 minutes for most people.

He is hoping the walk will appeal to students, and has already heard from teachers at local high schools — including Chase Collegiate in Waterbury, where he recently spoke to students who had just finished reading, interestingly enough, A Walk For Water — who plan to organize Walk 4 Water groups.

Western Connecticut State University anthropology students are also forming a group, as are Brookfield High School’s Key Club and National Honor Society chapter. Mr Plaue offered programs at BHS for both groups.

Adonai Sebastian, a student at Brookfield High School and a member of both groups, is looking forward to Saturday.

“Members [of the Key Club] seemed to really be interested in … and many have expressed a desire to walk at the event,” said Miss Sebastian. Some students will be walking while others, she said, “have approached me about donating pledges. My hope is that at least a handful of Key Club members will be able to make it to the event and we will successfully fundraise some money we can donate.”

The high school student has also been involved in various other community service organizations, including the Leo Club (of which she is former president), which helped lead her and fellow students to the realization that “we are not entitled to anything even if we live in an affluent country or if we are handed such basic necessities” as water, she sad.

“I believe students, most of all, comprehend the idea that we are a global community, a community that depends on each other for survival, and with that comes a responsibility to help others in need,” she added.

“My peers and I are truly excited to be part of such an amazing event,” Miss Sebastian continued. “The Walk 4 Water event is so unique in that it promotes not only helping others but understanding their problems. We hope that the walk will be successful and that more people will get involved in such a great cause, especially such events are hard to come by so close to home.”

Preparing For Saturday

It would be helpful, said Mr Plaue, if walkers bring with them their own empty two-liter bottles. Organizers will have water available with which to fill the bottles for carrying water. Walkers should also bring something to help them carry the water (backpack, gym bag, etc).

“It has been more difficult to collect two-liter bottles than we thought it would be,” he said this week of some of the work he and other organizers have put in to this weekend’s event. “If people could bring their own, it would be great.”

He added, “Walkers should plan to carry their water on their bodies, not wheel it. You will be carrying your water in your backpack, in your hands, on your head, in a bag, or over your shoulder.”

Plastic drinking water bottles (16-ounce bottles, for instance) should be left at home. Refillable bottles are welcomed, but not single-use recyclable bottles.

“One of the ideas behind this event is to also focus on our renewable resources,” said Mr Plaue. “We will have filtered water available, and reusable containers including single-serve reusable bottles that can be used 200 or 300 times before they need to be replaced. There is a large educational aspect to this,” he said.

Wear comfortable walking shoes, and appropriate clothing for the weather. Walkers are welcome to bring snacks with them (food will not be provided), and all are being asked to clean up after themselves.

 A short reception will follow the walk so that walkers can meet exhibiting sponsors and also share in a short discussion about water poverty around the world. In addition to previously announced companies (“Fundraiser, Educational Event At FFH Will Have Far-Reaching Effects,” September 21, 2012), additional businesses that have committed to Walk 4 Water include Aquarion Water Company, Almstead Tree, Church Hill Physical Therapy, The Inspired Body, Kumon, McKenney Mechanical, Orthopaedic Specialists, Stop & Save Liquors, Thomas M. Adams & Sons, The Toy Tree, and Waterworks.

Those who would like to register in advance or want additional information are invited to contact Mr Plaue for fundraising forms. Walkers can begin contacting friends, family, employers, co-workers, et al, immediately to begin gaining pledges and sponsors, he said. Mr Plaue can be reached at 203-744-9173 or david@DigDeepWater.org.

“Twenty dollars essentially provides clean water, for life, for one person,” he said.

DigDeep Water is a nonprofit company that plans and funds water access projects, like wells, for people who do not have clean water. It is a small company, with about ten employees who think big, and think on an international scale.

“We do innovative education to change the way people think about water and sanitation,” said Mr Plaue, who is available to speak to groups interested in learning more about DigDeep Water and/or Walk 4 Water. Call or e-mail him to set up an appearance, or to make a direct donation to the Walk 4 Water effort.

DigDeep Water follows a 100 percent model, meaning all public donations and fundraising efforts go directly to the well projects.

“Employee salaries and administrative costs are funded by a private group called The Water Council. These are people who also believe, strongly, in our mission and support our efforts,” he said.

“It’s so much more than health,” he said of efforts to bring healthy drinking water to the world’s residents. “And it’s so fulfilling to know you can have an incredible affect on someone else’s life.”