The first annual Peace, Water,and Wisdom 5k Race was held on October 2, 2011 and was a huge success!  We would like to thank all of our participants, sponsors, and volunteers for aiding us in delivering clean drinking water to a large population of deserving individuals in the small, West African country of Burkina Faso!  With over 100 participants, live music, and speeches given by Ina and Esu Anahata (the Co-Founder's of the BARKA Foundation), a sense of community developed that was determined to spread access to a natural resource that most of us take for granted.  We raised just over $1,200, which will be donated directly to the BARKA Foundation for use during their upcoming trip to Burkina later this month.  The PWW Race Planning Committee has started planning for next year's event, and hopes to grow considerably.  Be sure to mention the PWW Race to friends and alert people of next years event, which we hope will be even more successful than this year.  
       The race was featured on the October 3rd Morning News Broadcast of WABI TV5 based in Bangor.  Found below is the story that they aired.  

"Bangor - Some students from John Bapst Memorial High School held a fundraiser Sunday, that will help people in a west African country.
       They hosted a 5k Water Walk, to raise money for people in Burkina Faso.  The money goes to the [BARKA] Foundation, which works to increase the overall quality of life in the small country.  They have a big water crisis.
       " We all take water for granted. They have to walk 6k everyday to get dirty water which makes them sick and kills them."
       " This work[s] not only helps the people in Burkina Faso by giving them the right of clean water, but it also develops leaders, student leader[s] right here in our communities."
       Members of the [BARKA] Foundation will be heading to Africa soon and will return to John Bapst to report their progress."


The published copy of the story accompanied with video footage from the event can be found by clicking here.