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By Lailani Mendoza
‘TURN on the Tap’ was the message September
6 in Kelowna, as more than four dozen motorcyclists raised more than
$30,000 for clean water.
The slogan is also the name of a program conducted by
Samaritan’s Purse (SP), which provides clean water to countries in
Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa through the construction of
BioSand Water Filters. This was the second annual ride, and the first time
Kelowna joined the event.
The riders are raising money to help some of the one
billion people who are fighting to survive without access to clean drinking
water. Turn on the Tap has installed more than 70,000 BioSand filters, and
plans to add at least 65,000 more by 2010. The filters are easily
constructed and maintained; they require no electricity, and render water
potable within seconds.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates around
1.8 million people – 4,500 of whom are children – die
every year from waterborne diseases.
For every $100 raised, the organization provides
communities with a water filter, education on the filter’s
maintenance and proper hygiene to reduce the yearly deaths caused by
drinking unclean water.
“We had started to build and install these water
filters after a Calgary inventor had made them available to non-profit
organizations,” said Jeff Adams, SP’s director of
communications and creative services.
After the first installation of filters in Latin
America, he added, “there was some independent testing done on the
filters and the impact they were having in people’s health.
“WHO looked at them, and the University of South
Carolina did a detailed study – and both of those studies said that
they were having a significant impact in people’s health, and in
saving people’s lives.”
This reinforcement, he said, “was the push that
we needed. After that, we prayed about it, and we felt that God was calling
us to do a lot more. That’s when we initiated Turn on the Tap. What
we have done in the last 10 years, we want to repeat in the next three
years.”
Trinity Baptist Church’s parking lot was a sea of
shiny chrome and helmets as some 50 motorcycles, their owners and
passengers showed up. Participants enjoyed a two-hour ride alongside
picturesque Lake Okanagan and enjoyed a celebration barbecue afterwards.
“We just had a fantastic, enthusiastic crowd who
wanted to ride for clean water,” said Samaritan Purse’s Sandra
Hea, one of the Kelowna organizers.
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Rita and Robert Letkeman found out about the fundraiser
at church. Both avid motorcyclists, they thought this was a great way to
help out while doing something they loved.
“I enjoy riding my motorcycle along with my
husband; and because this is a wonderful cause to raise funds for, I was
motivated to ask for sponsorship,” said Rita.
“I’m pretty excited, because when I get
passionate about something, it’s not a problem to ask people to
sponsor me. I’ve already raised $1,370.00 and still have a bit
more to come in.”
The Kelowna event was just half of the picture, as the
other half unfolded in High River Alliance Church in Calgary, the city
where the initiative was conceived. At least 70 people turned up.
In addition to the $25 registration, said Adams,
“we ask every rider to raise at least $100 to be able to cover the
cost of the construction and installation of at least one water
filter.”
Riders have stepped up to the plate, he said, citing a
Kelowna man who raised more than $4,000 to support the cause. He hopes to
have 10 events from each province on the same day – a promising goal,
as people from Edmonton and Ontario have already expressed interest in
starting local rides at the Calgary event.
The Kelowna participants were definitely pumped up and
ready to go again. “It will be held again next year, the Saturday
after the long weekend,” said Hea.
People don’t have to ride to help out. They can
sponsor riders or donate directly on the website. For more information,
visit www.turnonthetap.ca.
October 2008
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