On April 20 and 21, approximately 50 Nakusp Secondary School students will be participating in a 30 Hour Famine. The group is trying to raise $1,000 to go to children and families in the Democratic Republic of Congo without water, where the money will go towards putting in wells and pumps.
To show their support, the group is not only collecting pledges but also going 30 hours without food. They are encouraged to drink lots of juice and water, and half-way through the famine they will receive one cup of cooked rice. Two years ago, some students choose to either slowly eat their rice and saved it for breakfast the following day, while others ate theirs immediately.
Parkour Nakusp will be working with the fasting students and those who choose can take a lesson.
Some participants are involved to help change the dire statistic that, according to famine.ca, one in eight people aren’t able to get clean drinking water. Raelene Agar is taking part “to fundraise for water and to kind of get a feel for what it is to go without food...in a way.” She plans on collecting $200 in donations. Liva Niquidet says, “I haven’t been able to participate until this year, but I really wanted to.” Her goal is to raise $50. Trinity Miller, another of approximately fifty participants, hopes to raise $75 and is “almost there!” To donate online go to: bit.ly/HftD5C or contact a participant.
Some facts from www.famine.ca:
•1.4 million children die every year from diseases caused by unclean water.
•Some children walk seven kilometres a day to get clean water.
Special contribution to the Arrow Lakes News
by Kathleen Fox