“Water Changes Everything."

A commitment between friends came about this past fall to bike across the United States in the summer of 2010. Through our shared, strong belief in helping others and personal dedication to volunteer service, we knew we wanted to create our ride as powerful charity endeavor, one that would educate people about an important cause and invite them to be a part of making a difference. By unanimous vote, we chose charity: water, and the Water Cycle 2010 cross-country bike tour was born!

Why charity:water...

There’s roughly a billion people on the planet who do not have access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. In more personal terms, that’s one in eight people on our planet! Those in this dire situation, many of them women and children, have no choice but to walk for several miles to gather water at the nearest source that may be an open, shallow pit or polluted swamp to meet their basic needs of drinking, washing, and bathing. Containers are often as large as five gallons, weighing nearly 50lbs each, and must be carried strapped to their backs or balanced on their heads over the long distances made on foot. The back-breaking task is also very time-consuming, and sometimes they have to wait in long lines up to eight hours for access to a single, overused source of dirty, unfiltered water. It takes precedence over school and work, not affording many children the opportunity for education. And, sadly, because the water is very susceptible to dangerous contamination, it is likely to make them sick or even contribute to their own or a family member‘s death, especially infants and young children.

charity: water is working to change this. By working with partners in developing nations, charity: water is accessing freshwater sources, mostly in the form of digging wells, in communities that do not currently have such resources. Their efforts are expanded by education about sanitation and hygiene practices and how to maintain the water system once it is put into place. The projects are balanced by community ownership: community members contribute labor when possible and a small percentage of necessary materials such as sand or gravel. A gender-equal water management board of six to eight community members is formed to ensure that the well is always maintained for proper operation. For many woman, this is also the first official leadership role they are able to hold, and for the entire community it is a source of pride to have contributed to their own betterment and sustainability. Water not only secures a more healthy livelihood, but it also brings opportunity to improve one‘s own life and contribute more fully to their own family and community. The focus is water, but the impact goes so far beyond that.

It takes an estimated $5000 to create a basic well system. This is not a lot in exchange for a source of fresh, clean water that will serve hundreds of people for many years from now. Furthermore, Also, 100% of public donations made through charity: water goes directly to these projects on the ground, because all costs of organizational operations are covered by private donors and other means, such as sale of merchandise. Completed projects are photographed and mapped on Google Earth so the evidence of progress is visible and tangible to the donors, while specific fund-raising groups like Water Cycle 2010 whose efforts may fully funded a project are also acknowledged.

It is the initial goal of Water Cycle 2010 to raise $5,000 this summer for charity: water by biking from Portland, Maine to San Francisco, California, educating the public and collecting donations in any amount to help bring fresh, safe water to those in this world who desperately need it. If this initial goal is reached before our end destination, we will undoubtedly raise the bar, because the mission does not rest. As we gear up for the months ahead, we are very excited about this adventurous challenge and the opportunity to help others by bringing them one of this world’s most precious, valuable gifts: WATER!


Please stayed tuned in to our story as it develops, help us spread the word about our ride Water Cycle 2010, and don’t hesitate to contact us or get involved. And remember…

“Water Changes Everything.” - www.charitywater.org