Hamilton's World Water Day Walkathon

City of Hamilton's Public Works Department
City of Hamilton, Canada, 22 Dec 04

Hamilton Walks for Haiti

The City of Hamilton’s Public Works Department is very pleased to be hosting a 5 km Walkathon in celebration of World Water Day, “Water for Life 2005 – 2015”, on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 at 9:30 a.m.

“Water is one of our most precious natural resources and yet one that is taken for granted by countless people,” said Jim Harnum, Senior Director of Water and Wastewater. “Many people around the world have to walk miles to get their water daily.”

The goal of the Public Works Department is to raise enough money to provide Ancaster Rotarian, Roy Sheldrick and the Haiti “Water for Life” Project with the money to build another well. Approximately 50,000 people in Haiti are now provided with clean, uncontaminated water everyday thanks to the wells built to-date by Rotary International. “Children in Haiti can spend their whole day just getting five gallons of water” said Mr. Sheldrick.

In recognition of the efforts of Haiti’s children and many more people around the world who have to walk miles for their water, each participant in the Water and Wastewater Division’s Walkathon will be given a small water bottle when they check-in at the Steam Museum, Hamilton’s first waterworks built in 1859, located at 900 Woodward Avenue. When the participant reaches Hutch’s on VanWagners Beach Road, which is our midpoint, their water bottle will be filled with water for the return walk.

Following the Walkathon, a cheque presentation, tours of the Steam Museum and Water Treatment Facility and a BBQ will be held at the Steam Museum.

Contact: Anna Marie DiPronio <adiproni@hamilton.ca>