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Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, started runners and walkers on their way at the Thurrock Thameside Rotary Club’s, Global run for water on Sunday 14th October.
The event was organised as part of a wider Rotary project to raise money and awareness for water projects in India and across the developing world.
The runners and walkers who had congregated at Beacon Field, Dry Street enjoyed a rare sunny day as they made their across the local countryside both enjoying the challenge and drawing attention to a problem that affects the lives of millions of people in India every year.
Stephen Metcalfe MP commented: “I was delighted to be asked to start this fantastic event. India may be growing fast but vast numbers of people do not have access to clean water. In order just to meet the Millennium Development Goal of halving the number of people without sanitation, access will need to be provided for 21 million people every year. I think this highlights just how big the problem is.”
Globally this is a problem affecting 2.5 billion people, meaning that one in six children do not have access to clean water. In India, this means that for every 1,000 children, 68 die before their fifth birthday from preventable water born diseases. The Rotary club have long since been involved in tackling this problem.
Stephen added: “I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the Rotary Club for organising this event and for all of their hard work in raising money for good causes. I look forward to this becoming an annual event and hearing how the Global Run for Water has changed lives. I wish the Rotary Club well in their continuing efforts to raise awareness of important issues.”
