For a third straight year, Oswego Methodists supported the World Vision Global 6K Walk for Water, an event aimed at bringing water to communities in need.
Saturday morning, June 7, Oswego’s Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist sponsored the walk/run at Hudson Crossing Park in Oswego. The Reverend Steve Good, Good Shepherd pastor and walk co-captain, organized the event. It featured live music, water and aid stations, colorful bibs and fellowship at the finish.
Rev. Good said, “It was a memorable event where we practiced our faith by caring for those who can’t care for us. It was empowering that, with our efforts to bring clean water, it creates an environment that also generates health, jobs, security and hope for the future.”
He explained that the 6K (3.7 miles) reflects the average distance that women and children walk for unclean water in developing parts of the world. “Our partnering agency, World Vision, creates safe/clean water sources for those in need,” Rev. Good said.
The pastor kicked off the celebration with a welcome and prayer. The race began after Nicole Devine, a Good Shepherd congregant and race co captain, sang the national anthem. Oswego brothers Oliver Green, 10, and Teddy Green, 7, decorated the start/finish line with multicolored chalk.
“Reborn,” the church’s praise band, performed before and after the race. The turnaround point was Violet Patch Park in Oswego.
According to World Vision, nearly 4,000 people, more than 1,000 of whom are children under 5, die every day from diseases related to lack of safe water, sanitation and hygiene. Some 703 million people lack basic drinking water access, about one out of every 11 people on the planet.
—Al Benson