6K in Manassas to raise funds for clean water access

There are many women and children in Africa that have to walk more than 3 miles for water.

This fact is what spurred World Vision, a humanitarian organization, to organize their annual 6K for Water walk/run, which will be held in Manassas on September 12.

“[The] program works to address the 768 million people in the world who lack access to clean water. It started last year. Last year we just did it in Chicago, and this year we separated it out to four different cities – Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit, and [the Washington] D.C. [area],” said Ashley Colquitt, the marketing director for the race.

According to Colquitt, 1,600 children under the age of five die each day because of a lack of access to clean water, and the issue takes more lives each year than AIDS and malaria combined.

It also keeps many girls out of school, because they need to collect water, said Colquitt.

“The race is a 6K – which is a little shorter than four miles – it’s the distance that women and children in Africa have to walk to collect water. The issue with that is that it keeps girls out of school, because they have to collect water for their family. There are also hygiene and sanitation issues, because the water they collect is often dirty water…it’s the only water they have access,” said Colquitt.

Registration costs $50, with 100% of proceeds going to help their water access program.

“[Before the race] we pinpoint the community that we’re going to provide clean access to water for, and we take pictures of the kids that people are helping. And on race day, people running will be running with pictures of those kids on their race bibs. They know exactly where and who their donation went to,” said Colquitt.

The race will start at 9 a.m. that morning at the Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center.

Registration for the race is currently open.