By Gaby Moran
Staff Writer
On Oct. 10, Coppell High School’s Hope for Africa club participated in the Water Is Basic 5K run to help bring water to Sudanese people.
The Water Is Basic organization focuses its time and energy on helping the people of Sudan. The country has many problems such as decades of war, poor land management and a major drought. After all these troubles, the people of Sudan have been left with no water and have to walk miles from where they live to even come close to decent water.
“Since the club has started, our whole purpose now is to support Water Is Basic and their cause,” senior Shelby Samuels said. “So we are trying to help them as much as possible and joining this run was a great way.”
The third annual Basic 5K and 10K run was held at T.W. Richardson Grove Park in Las Colinas. There were over 500 runners and 100 volunteers participating in the cause. The organization was able to raise enough money to be able to give access to daily, clean water to over several thousands of Sudanese people.
Six CHS students participated in the 5K run. While the club members did not train for the 5K run, they still completed the race to show their compassion about helping the Sudanese get clean water.
“The scenery along the path was really beautiful and it made the 5K so much more fun,” senior Rebekah Yates said. “I did most of the run with my sister and it was just a great opportunity to get people aware about the scarcity of water in all parts of the world.”
While they are currently focusing on raising money for Sudan now, the Hope for Africa club also raised enough money, roughly $1,045 to build one well in Africa with the button fundraiser during Homecoming.
While both of the fundraisers did well, the club plans on doing a few more fundraising projects. The next fundraiser will be before semester break and the club is asking all students to either donate shoe boxes and small Christmas gifts to be sent to kids in Africa.
“We are really focusing on doing anything and everything we can this year to help others and hopefully we will get a lot of contributions during our Christmas fundraiser,” senior Emily Mankin said.
