Broadway Church of Christ raises more than $20,000 for clean water in Africa

PADUCAH, Ky(KBSI) – A walk along the riverfront in Paducah is helping bring clean drinking water to communities thousands of miles away in Africa.

Broadway Church of Christ held its annual Walk for Water on Saturday, Oct. 17, bringing community members together to raise money for wells in Benin, Africa.

Christina George, the church’s Walk for Water coordinator, said the event has been held for at least 7 years.

Participants walked a route of nearly 4 miles, beginning at Wilson Stage along the riverfront before continuing along the riverwalk and Greenway Trail.

The distance represents the challenge faced by people in communities without access to clean water, who often walk an average of 4 miles to reach their nearest water source.

George said seeing those challenges firsthand has made the cause especially meaningful to her.

“We take so much advantage of fresh water, that we don’t have to walk out of our house,” George said. “Sometimes we don’t even have to walk out of the room.”

The church set a fundraising goal of $15,000, enough to build 2 wells at $7,500 each. However, the event exceeded that goal, raising approximately $20,500.

The additional funds put the church closer to its goal of building 3 wells in Benin, providing more communities with access to clean drinking water.

George said the walk is a reminder not to take access to safe, fresh water for granted and of the difference communities can make by working together.

If you would like to help reach the goal to build three wells or learn more go here.