1 gallon = $10K

So I have decided to institute a little challenge. For every $10,000 dollars raised through Running4Water I am going to carry 1 gallon of water throughout the Portland Marathon. Currently we have raised $2,826.10, so we need $7173.90 for the first gallon. I think this will help highlight that in addition to the health concerns of bad water, small children carry water (8lbs per gallon) very long distance. This takes up the time they could be spending receiving education as well as heavily taxes an often malnourished frame. Lets spread the word, the Portland Marathon is Oct 5th.

You Can Run4Water

Check out this new site.

http://www.firstgiving.com/jeremycox

You can create your very own page just like mine and help bring clean water to the thirsty. www.firstgiving.com/lwi

Do it for health, yours and theirs.

Good Article

http://www.imagodeicommunity.com/jeremy-cox/

The above link is to a little blurb about Running4Water on the Imago Dei Community website.

Facebook is a great tool

Thanks to facebook I have found the easiest way to coordinate donating.
https://www.causes.com/fb/donations/new?cause_id=95132&fp=930d7&fundraiser_id=15254125&m=9deb6

All donations will flow directly to LWI, but will be designated for the Running4Water projects.

Facebook also allows some cool ways to share ideas and info with lots of people.

13.1 Miles For Water

Yesterday I completed my first ever half marathon. It was so great. There is an amazing sense of community surrounding a race. Kyle, a buddy of mine, came down from Portland and ran with me. The first ten miles felt like a nice jog, hanging out talking with a good friend, even though we were at running at the fastest pace I had run at.

Today I feel a little stiff, but overall I had such a great time that I am more excited about the Portland Marathon than ever before. If anyone has ever wanted to attempt a marathon this is a really great reason to do one. As a plus, the Portland marathon is billed as one of the best walking marathons in the country.

Thanks to all the people who pledged support for this half marathon. The total mileage was 13.1 miles. See the posts below for instructions on how to mail in, or phone in a payment. Thanks again, and be on the look out for updates over the summer. I might try to sneak in another race or two before the Portland Marathon.

Last post before my first race.

http://www.water.cc/give/

The Living Water online donation system is up and running. If you haven't made your donation, this is probably the easiest way to do it. Please remember to include the gift code "Running4Water - Ghana". Currently there is no location for the gift code, so include it in the Address Line 2. Of course you can still donate over the phone or by mail (see posts below).

I am heading down to Eugene in an hour or so for my first ever half marathon. I am excited to share my passion for clean water with runners and individuals I meet. Of course upon my return I will send out an update to tell everyone how my run went.

Progress Report

Thanks so much to all the people that have already decided to pledge support for this project. I would ask that you continue to spread the message. Currently LWI's online donation site is down, so please use

their phone number 281-207-7800

or their mailing address
Living Water International
PO Box 35496
Houston, TX 77235-5496

And remember to include the gift code "Running4Water - Ghana" so the accounting department will know to allocate all the funds to this project.

Many people have expressed desire to join me in this project. That is absolutely wonderful. Please send me your contact information, and I would like to include your name and races on this blog to share with everyone.

My running has been going very well. Today I ran about 3.5 miles with a friend of mine. It was great to run and talk about water and how awesome it is that we can do something to make a difference. If you're on the fence please consider supporting me during my first half marathon. I am asking people to consider $1 per mile, so $13.10. It's a great way to have a huge impact in the world.

Maasi Warriors Running For Water

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/04/10/maasi.marathon/

Some Maasi Warriors ran the London Marathon to raise money to drill a well in their village of Tanzania.

"We are losing a lot of younger brother and sisters," says Isaya Oleporuo, 24-year-old leader of the group, "we thought that we can get people to help us."

If you are a runner...

then get in touch with me. On the right side of the blog I am starting a list of all the folks who will be running for water this summer. It doesn't matter if you are running 1 or 100 miles, let me know. Running4Water@gmail.com

Quick Note

The LWI online donation system is down until Apr 15th. They have a new website that looks really good, please check that out. http://www.water.cc/

You can give by phone as well. 281-207-7800. Make sure to mention the gift code "Running4Water - Ghana"

H2O Manifesto

Going to Work With Dad

When I was younger my father worked in construction. During the summers I would go to work with him, almost every day. I wanted so much to be useful. I would try and help out, and he would come behind me and patch up what I had done, and explain to me how to do it a little better next time.

We serve a God who has chosen us to bear his light to a lost world. God could redeem this whole world with a word, but He has chosen to work with us and through us. I am absolutely blown away by the image of God the Father mentoring us in his work of bringing redemption to a broken world.

It is clear from the words of Jesus that we are to care for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the thirsty and the naked. And this from a man who died for us naked and thirsty. “If you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me.”

Why Water?

Currently 1.1 billion people on this planet are without access to clean drinking water. A person can exist many days without food, but only a few without water. The destruction of AIDS is amplified drastically by the lack of clean water. Every $1 spent on water and sanitation creates on average another $8 in costs averted and productivity gained.

This problem is fixable. A well brings clean water for entire communities. The church in the United States has the resources to end the global water crisis.

What Do We Do?

Remember when Jesus is walking towards a boat across the water and Peter asks if he can come out to him? Jesus replies that he can and I imagine Peter took a running leap over the side of the boat and hit the water running. But then he started to sink.

Our focus is on Jesus and it needs to remain there. We cannot change a person’s heart, only Christ can do that. However, we can show the love of Christ that is present in us.

I am requesting support to drill a well. I am running a half marathon on May 4th and am asking people to sponsor me for $1 per mile. Every penny will go towards drilling a well in Ghana. I am essentially asking for a donation of $13.10 to be made to Living Water International using the gift code “Running4Water – Ghana”. Check out http://running4water.blogspot.com/ for more information, or you can email running4water@gmail.com . Please support this effort anyway you can.

Ghana

I have decided to change the community that I am focusing this effort on. Running4Water will now be benefitting Ghana. A group called With This Ring is sponsoring a well in this region, and due to the long hike in, it is most beneficial to try and drill several wells during one trip.

The cost of one of these wells is $8,000. I would like to use Running4Water as a way to introduce folks to the water crisis and this very practical solution. What this means is my goal of 382 sponsors now must increase to 610. This is very doable. Think about how many people you know that could easily part with $13.10 to help dig this well.

Please pray about this cause, and forward this message to anyone that would be remotely interested.

Calling all supporters

If you would like to collaborate with me on this project please contact me via email at Running4Water@gmail.com.

If you are going to support this endeavor financially please email me to indicate your intention to participate. Please send all donations to:

Living Water International
PO Box 35496
Houston, TX 77235-5496

Include "Running4Water - Ghana" in the note section of the check.

Or if you prefer the online method

THIS IS CURRENTLY DOWN.

Include "Running4Water - Yendi Ghana" in the Comments section.

Updated Plan

I am going to ask everyone who would like to participate to email Running4Water@gmail.com and simply state that you pledge support. I am asking for a minimum of $1 per mile. Obviously if you can not afford that less is fine, and more is acceptable as well. Either way please do not tell me the amount when you reply. I want that to be personal. The accounting office at LWI will know and you will get a tax deductible receipt at the end of the year. I will only know the total amount. I think it will be best this way. I would like you to commit to supporting this endeavor. I have asked for the name of a specific village that lacks clean water so that all of our contributions will go directly to one specific town. This way we can all picture a very real and specific location. All the proceeds raised will go directly to providing a well in that village.

Eugene Half Marathon

I am running the Eugene Half Marathon on May 4th.

Here's a little background on me. I just started running for the first time in about 8 yrs a couple of weeks ago. I am up to 5.6 miles, and about 13 miles a week.

Without the goal of a race, there is no way I would be motivated enough to keep running. Anyways, a half marathon is 13.1 miles, and I am asking people to begin to pledge support for this race. It can be done anonymously or you can email Running4Water@gmail.com to officially pledge. Nothing financially is required at the time of the pledge. After the race I will share with you my story of pain and triumph and then I will ask that you send a check to LWI. I will have a code assigned to this program which I will give at a later time along with the address.

Feel free to send anyone that might be interested a link to this blog. I am also hoping to get a few inspirational comments along the way. It's nice to have something warm to think about while I'm training in the rain.

The Plan

I am going to be running this summer. I have a half marathon, and a triathlon currently planned, but I haven't crossed off a marathon in September.

I am going to use my running as a fundraising tool. I will ask people to pledge a small amount, like a dollar or so, per mile that I run. This can be for one particular event, or the whole season. After completing the event the total amount, miles * pledge, will be donated to Living Water International and used to drill wells in the Yendi Province of Ghana.

I have done a lot of research on charities and have decided to support LWI, as the have very low overhead, and dig wells all over the world. I have chosen to support projects in Ghana specifically because of a dear brother, Paul Darilek, who opened my eyes to what it means to love our neighbors enough to not only give, but to ask others to give as well.

If you are a runner please contact me if you would like to partner with me in this endeavor. I only have so many friends and family, the more people that join with me that greater the impact.