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<h2><strong>County-wide event aims to raise $75,000 for clean, safe water </strong></h2>
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<p><strong>From staff reports&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p>Registration is now open for the fifth annual Beaufort County Walk for Water on Saturday, Oct. 9.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Beaufort County Walk for Water promotes awareness of the global water crisis while raising money to provide sustainable, safe water around the world. All money raised benefits Water Mission, a nonprofit Christian engineering organization based in Charleston that builds safe water solutions in developing countries and disaster areas.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>The walk will take place in dozens of locations across Beaufort County. Participants can find a convenient host location on the Walk for Water website at walkforwater.com/beaufortco and join that team, or create their own teams with family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. All preregistered participants get a free T-shirt, and those registered by Sept. 1 are guaranteed their preferred size.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Participants will be encouraged to carry a bucket of water on part of the 3-mile walk to symbolize the burden millions of women and children in developing countries carry daily to collect water that’s often contaminated. That unsafe water has dire consequences: a person dies from water-related illness every 37 seconds somewhere in the world, according to Water Mission.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>“As little as $25 can provide one person safe water for life,” Beaufort County Walk for Water committee chair Jim Pickard said in a release. “$500 can create latrine sanitation for a community, and just over $1,000 can build solar panels for a power source.”&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Last year’s walk attracted nearly 400 registered walkers and raised more than $58,000, despite the pandemic and the necessity of shifting from a large group event to small neighborhood walks. Based on that success, organizers have set aggressive goals of 750 participants and $75,000 raised through registration fees, sponsorships and donations.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>“We’re hoping a record number of people will help us ‘pick up the bucket’ this year,” Pickard added.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>For more information, to register or donate, visit the website at walkforwater. com/beaufortco or call 843- 769-7395. For sponsorship information, contact Robert Lasher at 843-906-8118 or rlasher5519@gmail.com.&nbsp;</p>
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