The Blue Planet Run begins tomorrow, with 20 runners, across 16 countries and over 15,200 miles in 95 days, relaying the message that we must begin to tackle the global problem of inadequate and unsafe drinking water.
The run will being in New York on 1st June and the 20 athletes will leap off their starting blocks to run an around the clock route, for 24 hours a day, making 26.7 million strides. The route will take in: the U.S., Ireland, the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Belarus, Russia, China, Japan and Canada.
Each runner will sprint 10 miles a day in a relay, passing batons over at 1,500 exchange points.
There are 1.1 billion people worldwide who don’t have access to safe drinking water and individuals with waterborne illnesses occupy 50% of the world’s hospital beds. 6000 children die every 24 hours because of a lack of suitable drinking water. Women and children often suffer disproportionately because they have to spend hours a day obtaining water for their families and communities. They often have to walk 6 kilometres or more each day.
The Blue Planet Run Foundation is a non-profit organisation, dedicated to increasing global awareness about the deficiency of safe drinking water and funding solutions to help people who do not have access to adequate drinking water. They have funded 11 NGOs worldwide, which have put in place 135 sustainable water projects in 13 countries.
From: BEST OF 2008: Eco-friendy and sustainable shoes