As anticipation for the 2011 Run for Water in Abbotsford cruises into the final week of registration, students have already made a big difference for the water crisis in Ethiopia.

In the past week, more than 2,000 students from Lower Mainland schools participated in mini Run for Water fun runs on their school grounds, collectively raising more than $7,000 for the cause.

"It has been a great community building activity for all of our students and staff," Mike Ewert, principal of Colleen and Gordie Howe Middle School said Friday. Students at Gordie Howe Middle School used homeroom time over the last few months to cover curriculum developed by the Run for Water Educational Committee. They learned about the water crisis in Ethiopia as well as how to conserve water in their own homes.

After running three kilometres around Elwood Park on a sunny Friday before the long weekend, Gordie Howe Middle School student Miranda Arnold explains, "I feel bad for the girls who walk for miles to just get dirty water when we get clean water here." Her friend Adina Oprea agrees. "We are proud to run this. It is a good cause for our school, and it was good for our school to participate in it."

At Mountain Elementary School, principal Gord Revel gave 25-pound backpacks to various kids during their run to give his students more of an understanding of what the girls in Ethiopia go through every day to get clean water. The school also had a fine arts night where students' art was sold to raise $2,000 for the cause.

East Chilliwack Elementary's principal Ruth Neufeld helped the students in grades four to six train to run an impressive 10-kilometre run, while the younger students ran around the student campus to raise awareness.

"This is our fourth year having a Run for Water," Neufeld said to her students before they ran. "Think of the girls who carry 40 to 50 pounds of water every day as you run and help it energize you." Through various activities and drives the students have raised $3,000 and are hoping for more before the end of the month.

Envision Financial sponsors the mini Run for Water fun runs, supplying a 20x20 tent and speaker to come to each event. Envision offers two $1,000 awards and one $2,500 award to schools that raise the most money and have the most participants at the May 29 Run for Water at Mill Lake Park in Abbotsford.

Other schools participating in the mini Run for Water fun runs are Queen Elizabeth Elementary, Cherry Hill Elementary, Margaret Stenerson, Mission Secondary, Clayburn MIddle School, and Abbotsford Christian Elementary.

Source: http://www.vancouversun.com/