A Water Ambassadors Canada event planned for Haliburton on Sunday aims to raise money for safe drinking water and hygiene equipment for communities in Central and South America and Africa, while also raising awareness about global water issues.

The event takes place at the Haliburton Sculpture Forest on Oct. 4 from 1 to 2 p.m. with participants choosing to walk either two or six kilometres. The goal is to raise $10,000.

The walkathon is happening in other Ontario communities in addition to Haliburton and since it is outside, physical distancing protocols will be easy to meet.

“Anyone can join us,” said organizer Ursula Devolin via email. “I’m trying to encourage some young people to come out so they develop some awareness about the distances some people walk every day to access water – and it probably isn’t clean water. Participants will have the opportunity to carry some water to really let them experience what it’s like to haul water.”

United Nations statistics show that around the world three out of every 10 people “lack access to safely managed drinking water services and six in 10 people lack access to safely managed sanitation facilities.”

“Clean water access means better health for people, it improves school attendance – especially for girls, and helps lift communities out of poverty. I think this is something we can all get behind,” Devolin said.

To donate or to register, go to waterambassadorscanada.org/walkathon or contact Ursula Devolin at 705-455-2037.