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Students from Creighton Community School got a new appreciation for clean water on Friday as a group walked roughly 25 kilometers to demonstrate the lengths some have to go to for water.
The group of Grade 7-12 students participated in a We Day global and local action as the brought light to an on going issue world wide. The students were both teaching and learning about the lengths that some families and children have to go to for clean water every day in some parts of the world. To add to the Walk 4Water, the students collected pledges to help supply families with clean water.
As of press time Tuesday, the school had collected over $3,000 with pledges still making their way to the office. Each $25 raised can give a person clean water for life. 'Most people can't even pay a water bill for $ 2 5 , ' said Sarah Morrison. The Grade 9 student raised $175 herself - giving seven people clean water for life. The group of 26 walkers started their Friday morning at the Alpine Convenience in Denare Beach.
They walked with their signs and a police escort as they made their way into Creighton. From there, the group took a short break before hitting the road towards the Rotary Wheel in Flin Flon. 'I was nervous to walk that far,' said Morrison. 'I was excited, but nervous. But it's for a good cause.' The students and teacher chaperones left Denare Beach at 8:15 a.m. and walked for nearly six hours straight.
Creighton Community School was the only school in Saskatchewan to host their own Walk 4Water this year. During a We Day conference earlier in the year, the school was challenged to complete a global and local action. The school decided upon a Walk for Water and opened it to all students in Grades 7-10. 'I think more schools should do this,' said Morrison.
During a separate conference, student council members from Creighton heard from motivational speaker Spencer West, an advocate for We Day. He spoke about the obstacles he faced after losing his legs at the age of five. He spoke about the challenges he has faced, but even more the challenges others face on a regular basis. From there, West spoke about the Walk 4Water he is doing from Edmonton to Calgary.
And though the Creighton students are not able to walk across the province, the group of 26 walked from Saskatchewan to Manitoba for the cause. 'It's a really good idea,' said Grade 10 student Jazmin Hysert. 'And, it's a good gettogether for the classes.' The group walked on a particularly hot day and Hysert said the 'wind was nice, but the sun was really, really, really hot.' Hysert herself brought in $100 to go towards the school's total as she was able to help four people obtain clean water for life. 'It's really cool,' she said. Making sure two more people have clean water for life was Mackenzie Grant.
The Grade 7 student said 'it was challenging.' 'But it's for a good cause and kids (have) to do it every day, so it wasn't that bad to do it,' said Grant. Kelly Carrington Staff WriterWhen the three students were asked if they ever thought about walking from Denare Beach to Flin Flon it was a straight across 'no.' 'I never thought I'd walk it,' said Hysert. And though it was a long and hot day, all three students agreed 'it was worth it.'
