5K Color Walk for Water

Grundahl Park, Mt. Horeb, WI Saturday, May 3, 2014 10:00 am About the event The 5K “Color” Walk for Water will be awesome and amazing! Officially, it’s a noncompetitive walk where participants walk to Stewart Lake and back again carrying water following a course through the village of Mt. Horeb. But, it is more than just a walk with water buckets to know how far women and children walk in many underresourced countries carrying water… the hundreds of participants will be showered with color (U.S. made, biodegradable, colored corn starch) at each kilometer of the walk. When you finish the walk, you’ll be one colorful and caring human being. Here’s how it works: participants in the 5K “Color” Walk for Water will gather at Grundahl Park at 401 Blue Mound Street in Mt. Horeb for a 10:00 am start to the walk. Participants will carry a bucket and walk the 2.5 km distance down to Stewart Lake Co. Park, 3106 Cty Hwy JG, just north of the Mt Horeb village limits. At each kilometer of the walk, volunteers will shower participants with colors – which is biodegradable cornstarch with food color. Participants will fill the bucket with water from Stewart Lake and walk back carrying the water the same 2.5 km course back to Grundahl Park, again getting showered with color on the return trip. The village officials have given us their approval for this unique event - to shower the walker with color in our specified color locations that will wash away and to use the water we carry from the lake to water trees at the park. We want this event to be environmentally friendly. But, the fun doesn’t stop there. At the end of the 5 kilometers you can celebrate the event with opportunities for great photos, meeting new friends, food and music. So join us. There is no other experience in the area quite like this – and you are walking for a great cause. All proceeds will go to Living Water International and be used to cover the cost of drilling a well for a small village in El Salvador that lacks access to clean water. Come have fun and provide clean water to those who are thirsty. This 5K Color Walk for Water is modeled after similar events that have been held worldwide and the color phenomenon arrives in Mt. Horeb on May 3. Hundreds of thousands of people have participated in similar events in over 100 countries. Now, you can join the fun and be one of them. Come be part of the experience. This will be one of the biggest and most colorful events held in Mt. Horeb. We want this walk to be fun and meaningful. Our goal is for all participants to have a great time and enjoy the walk, but we also want to raise awareness of the desperate need for clean water that many people have in many parts of the world. Mark your calendar, and plan to join us. Get to know your neighbors. Meet some new friends. Bring your kids. We welcome everyone that wants to participate (except animals, sorry). Whether you’re young or young at heart, you are welcome. Our goal is to come together for a fun morning, help us raise funds to build a well and bring some color to the community. What charity will benefit from this walk? The proceeds from the 5K Color Walk for Water will go to Living Water International. Living Water International is a faith-based, non-profit organization that helps communities in developing countries acquire safe, clean drinking water in response to the global water crisis. It is based in Houston, Texas. Who is the local sponsoring organization? The local sponsoring church is Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mt. Horeb. We believe that the church, local or worldwide, is the people who put their faith in Christ. As believers, we are called to worship and serve with Him, and to be the vehicle through which the Gospel in its fullness is shared with the world.

5K Color Walk for Water - FAQ So what’s this all about? This may be the most fun you will ever have! You start as a tidy clean being; as would walk the course, you pass through the color zones where you will be blasted with different colors. By the time we are done with you, it will appear as if you’ve been dipped in a rainbow! Prepare yourself for the time of your life! This Color Walk for Water is being held as a fundraising event. All proceeds will go to Living Water International to cover the cost of drilling a well for a small village in El Salvador that lacks access to clean water. Come have fun and provide clean water to those who are thirsty. What’s going to happen? Here’s where the fun begins! Everyone is asked to wear as much white as possible. Feel free to dress up for the walk and wear whatever you choose as long as it’s fun and mostly white! Then, while you walk the course carrying your bucket to and from Stewart Lake, we are going to shower you in color at color stations located at every one kilometer throughout the walk. That’s right we are going to turn you into a tye-dyed walker! What are you tossing in the air to color me with? It’s a surprise, but I will tell you. It is actually U.S. made, 100% edible, non-toxic and biodegradable colored cornstarch; so no worries. You could eat the stuff if you would like, although I don’t recommend it. Strollers, can I bring one? Absolutely, five kilometers is a long way to carry a kiddo. We recommend a jogging stroller with air tires, as the walk is on sidewalks, roads and some rough pavement. You may want to cover your stroller or get it colored as you walk. Can I avoid the shower of color? Somewhat. If you walk on the left side of the course, you will get less color and if you walk on the right side, you will be in the more color area. If you walk outside the course, you will avoid it altogether, but what fun is that. Left may be good for strollers. Is it harmful to me or to our lovely earth? Would we even consider that? No, it is not harmful at all. I don’t recommend eating, or cooking with the remnants of this colored stuff but it is 1000% biodegradable and would make phenomenal compost, or makeup. Does this walk benefit a specific charity? Indeed it does, and that’s the best part. The proceeds of this walk go to Living Water International. This year, we will use the funds raised to drill a fresh water well for the residents of a small village in El Salvador that do not have access to clean water. If we can have a blast (of color) and help some new friends in need gain access to clean water, tell me why not.

Is the walk timed? Not this one. The only time you need to worry about is having is having a great time with your friends. Walking fast is fun for some, and others may prefer to take it slow and steady. All skill levels of walkers are encouraged to participate! You can set your own pace and just have fun and enjoy the color walk! Are kids welcome? Certainly! What kind of parent would let them miss out on all this fun? Besides they’ll sleep well afterwards. All children must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian. Children 12 and under are free with the company of a registered adult. Please try not to bring a whole herd of young children. Remember to walk to the left if you want little ones to have less of a color shower. Any refunds? Sorry, if you have commitment issues, we cannot accommodate you. No refunds will be provided! The event may be rescheduled due to inclement weather, but that is not a sure thing either. Let’s all hope it doesn’t rain. What should I bring? Wear a white t-shirt or buy a 5K Color Walk for Water t-shirt the day of the walk (quantities and sizes will be limited.) The obvious other items to consider bringing along are: some specs (shades/glasses/eye-wear), an old blanket/towel (for your car seat), and a bandanna to cover your mouth if you’re super sensitive. You get the point - anything you want to keep color off or out of - eyes, mouth, car, stroller, etc. So I hear something about celebrating after the walk? You heard right. At the end of the 5 kilometers, participants are invited to celebrate the accomplishment of completing the walk with food, refreshments, opportunities for great photos and hanging out with new friends. Rumor has it that there will also be a collective color toss at the end for all participants. What a great photo op that would be. Can I register yet? Yes you can. Register online at www.water.cc/colorwalk Register early to save some cash. Interest in this event will be high and we are expecting a great turnout; and we may have to limit the fun (not really). But we will encourage people to register already! It will help us know who is coming. Can I register the day of? Yes, but it will cost you. Same day registration is $5 more. Can I help promote this event?

Sure can. The 5K Color Walk for Water is going to be fun! You can help spread the word. Copy and paste the note below in your Facebook or any social media site. Invite your friends. Hey friends. I’m going to be participating in the 5K Color Walk for Water on Saturday, May 3 at Grundahl Park in Mt. Horeb, WI. You should join me. It’s going to be a fun, colorful experience. Proceeds will go to Living Water International to drill a well for a small village in El Salvador that lacks clean water. Register at www.water.cc/colorwalk Help spread the word!

Photo courtesy of Howard Owens