World Vision
World Vision provides more clean water than any nongovernment organization in the world, providing clean water to one new person every 10 seconds. They work to help communities lift themselves out of poverty for good by addressing issues around clean water, hunger, health, education, economic empowerment, and child protection.
2024 Berlin Marathon
One of the reasons I fell in love with Sean was that he loved to help strangers. Early in our dating relationship, I discovered that while working as a waiter and attending community college, he was also sponsoring a child in a faraway country. I think this discovery about his character was the tipping point for me falling head-over-heels.
Although I'd been involved in running since childhood, I stopped after Sean died. I felt broken and aimless. Even though we didn't run together, I couldn't do it without him. In some ways, I had lost my "why." Later that year, a friend of his asked me when my next race was. When I told him I wasn't running anymore, he said, "Mel, you have to keep running. Sean wouldn't want you to quit!" In my inbox the next day was a bib to a major marathon. This goal was motivational, but running still felt empty and aimless. There was no joy in it anymore.
My first World Vision event, several years ago, was a team race called, "Hood to Coast.” Sean, went to his connected community and asked hundreds of friends to help us meet our goal of $10,000, the goal for each team member. He raised over 11k for that race. He was passionate about the global water crisis, which World Vision aims to relieve, but most of all Sean loved people. He had a deep conviction to help ease suffering.
There are many ministries out there, but I don't think there are many that can rival what World Vision does for communities. Each 50$ gift gives a person clean water...for life. That means a girl is off a dangerous road twice a day and able to attend school. It means families that deal with sickness due to dirty water can focus on thriving and not just surviving.
Sean wanted us to try to make a difference by using our gifts to help love and serve others. Running for a meaningful ministry like World Vision gives my former passion purpose. Running for water is my "why" and although I feel so inadequate in the fundraising department (that was the Great Connector's gifting!), I know that he would be proud that I am persevering in love, especially through running.
Friends of Finnegan: This year I am running with the Berlin Marathon/Team World Vision on September 29 to help provide life-changing clean water to children and communities in the developing world. Each runner's goal for this race is $20,000 and Ten individuals or families to sponsor a child in need. This seems like an insurmountable goal, but the last few years have taught me that I have an incredibly loving and supportive group of family and friends that have surrounded, cared for and loved us sacrificially. We all know that life is precious and sometimes tragically short, and that is a great reason to help others while we can.
Nearly 1,000 children under age 5 die every day from diarrhea caused by contaminated water, poor sanitation, and improper hygiene. But we believe the global water and sanitation crisis can be solved within our lifetimes.
Thank you for your support, Melody.