Africa's Deadly Water Crisis: A Walk To Raise Awareness
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Most of us don't think twice about how we'll get our water.
We just turn on a faucet and it's there.
But in Africa, many children are walking miles to get this basic necessity of life.
CBS 2's Mai Martinez shows us one Chicago man's unique way of raising awareness of the plight.
Every day, Rusty Funk walks six kilometers, nearly four miles, to Lake Michigan and fills a large jug with water.
Then, he walks home with the 40-pound container strapped to his back.
Why? Because that is roughly the distance many women and children in Africa walk to get water.
"Nobody knows that the lack of clean water kills more children than AIDS and malaria combined," Funk said.
Nearly 1,600 children under the age of 5 every day, according to World Vision.
That's why the organization is hosting six kilometer walks across the country to raise awareness and funds to provide clean water to villages in Africa.
Chicago's is this Saturday.
"I said in the days leading up to the race, I'm going carry water 6K to understand just a little bit what it's like to live without clean water," Funk said. "I had no idea [that it was so difficult]. It's funny because I've been to Africa six times and I've seen people and watch them do this commute."
Funk says he gets a lot of strange looks when people see him walking with the jug, but he also gets a lot of questions which raises awareness.
"The first reaction is, 'How far is 6K?' So I have to explain it's 3.72 miles, and they're blown away by it because it's a concept as Americans that we have never had to face before."
Funk says the more people who know, the better the chance it will change.
The World Vision 6K for water walk is tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock at Montrose Harbor.
To learn more or register go to worldvision6k.org.
