Fellowship Bible Church is hosting its third annual Well Done Run 5K Saturday, Oct. 1 at 9 a.m. The event will begin and end at the Searcy Lions Football Stadium, with a majority of the run taking place on the Searcy bike trail.
All proceeds from the event will be used to drill a clean-water well in Honduras in conjunction with Living Water International. Participants will receive an empty one-gallon milk jug at the beginning of the race to be filled with dirty water halfway through the route and then carried back.
“The run is not only to run and raise money for a clean well, but it’s really for race participants to put themselves in the shoes of those who have to collect water in this manner every single day,” Fellowship’s Global Outreach Director Shannon Chung said.
Facts and statistics will be written in chalk along the running path to inform participants of the dirty water crisis faced worldwide. Before-and-after photos of villages that received the wells will be displayed throughout the race, illustrating the purpose of the event.
“If my babies were drinking dirty water that was full of diseases, I would want someone to see that and to notice that and step in with the love of God to make a difference,” Chung said. “I think that’s the greatest thing participants will get is to know they are truly making a difference.”
According to the World Health Organization, 663 million people lack access to clean water. In addition, approximately one billion people walk an average of 3.5 miles a day and carry as much as 55 pounds of water per container, according to CNN.
Sophomore Timothy Weaver ran in the event last year and said it helped him better understand how people live without clean water.
“By doing this run, it really put more of a perspective of what people have to go through every day just to get water, and how much I take for granted being able to get water whenever I want it within just a few steps,” Weaver said.
According to Chung, Fellowship hopes to have 250 participants and raise $5,000. The church plans to send 12 members to Honduras to build the well with Living Water International staff in May 2017. Weaver said he watched a video from church members who helped establish the well in Burkina Faso, Africa, last year with funds raised from the Well Done Run. He said he plans to participate in the run again.
“It was one thing being able to see the missionary team that we sent to build the well,” Weaver said. “But to see the video of the water coming out for the first time, and seeing all the people jumping up and down and celebrating is what made me feel like I made a difference and knowing that I helped contribute to that well that was built.”
Chung said Chick-fil-A will serve free coffee, and scones made by Searcy business owner Lisa Ford will able be available. A bounce house and a fire truck will be available for kids. Winners of the race will receive milk-jug trophies.
The Well Done Run is open to all ages. Registration is accessible online at welldonerun.com or on the day of the race beginning at 8 a.m.
