By CHERYL JENSEN
The Progress
Relay for a Cause was held at Hughes Middle School in Mesquite on Friday, March 22. It is called the “Iron Giraffe Challenge” as the drilling equipment looks like a tall giraffe. The event is a fundraiser for Water for Sudan, a nonprofit organization which works to deliver clean, safe water resources to the people of South Sudan.
A total of 27 Hughes Middle School student teams ran the race. In addition there were 2 community teams: one organized by the Mesquite Police Officers Association and the other from the Virgin Valley Water District. One hundred seventy-eight students participated with some teams including teachers.
The running teams completed 27 laps around the school while the walking teams did 14 laps.
The participants had to carry a gallon jug of water as they completed their laps. This served for the runners to get a feel for the people in the Sudan who have to walk up to 8 miles each day carrying a jug on their head as they go back and forth to the streams to collect water for drinking and cooking.
The winning team was led by team captains Krew Perry and Jack Kelly with team members Justin Overman, Kale Garrett, Justin Andrus and Logan Andrus. They won with a time of 1 hour, 33 minutes.
The next best time was the Walkers with Lillian Marrott and Addi larsen as captains and Kiana Orourke and Adriana Estrada as team members. Their teim was 1 hour, 37 minutes.
The total raised by this event was $2,300.
The event was coordinated by Hughes Middle School teachers Aubrie Olsen and Kaycee Bingham. The school’s Hope Squad and student council helped with calling the students from class to participate with their teams.
“This is so awesome that our small school and community can come together for such a great cause!” said Bingham. “Our goal was $1,000 so we could be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a personal visit from (Water for Sudan founder) Salva Dut, and now we have far exceeded our goal!”
Dut is called one of the Lost Boys of Sudan because he, and many other youngsters at that time, walked away from their villages when fighting erupted in their country. Dut spent time in a refugee camp. Later, as an orphan, he was adopted by an American family and came to the U.S.. He received an education here. Then he wanted to return to Sudan to help the people there. His tragic and harrowing experiences have been published in a book, “A Long Walk to Water” by Linda Park.
Through Dut’s organization, wells have been drilled near communities in Sudan so that people don’t have to walk several times a day carrying water jugs. As of today 628 wells have been drilled with the help of donations to Dut’s organization. This provides clean water and thus avoids the water-borne diseases found in muddy river water.
Bingham expressed appreciation to the Sunrise Rotary Club and the Virgin Valley Water District for their generous donations to help make the event possible.
