Today, August 19, is World Humanitarian Day. Its a day to commemorate the dedication of aid workers who risk life and limb to bring food, water, shelter, and dignity to people around the globe - no matter who they are, what they believe, or where they come from. While it is a day to celebrate, it is also bittersweet. In 2024, 383 aid workers died in the line of service to complete strangers, the deadliest year ever recorded, despite special protection under International Humanitarian Law. These are friends of friends, colleagues, and selfless servants who you would never otherwise know. Yet, the work cannot stop as a result of increasing risk and danger. Humanitarian needs are the highest EVER recorded and the scale of crises globally is nearly impossible to fathom. Clean water access is dwindling, food is scarce, and children are in need of protection - this in the midst of unprecedented cuts in humanitarian funding from several of the world's largest donor governments.
This coming weekend, I'm running the Hood to Coast running relay in Oregon with Team World Vision - a 196 mile relay across the state - to raise money for clean water access in South Sudan. There are SO MANY in extreme risk of having no access to water or food in the coming months and years and this is a small part in how we can help change the course of history for underserved populations. You may think, this isn't for me or, we need to focus our attention to problems at home, I hear you and wrestle internally about my role as a humanitarian aid worker daily. However, I encourage you to consider: what if it were you that needed water? Food? A roof? What if you were TRULY powerless to even change the trajectory of your own life? WHAT IF you truly could not get water? Would you want support?
That is who this race is for and what we are raising money for. The funds raised will get to those in need, its part of my job to ensure donor money is well spent and allocated.
For the next week, Emmie and I are matching gifts for clean water until I reach $10k raised (currently $6k). Our Team World Vision goal is $2m (currently at $1m). I’m running HTC to raise funds and awareness because I know/believe water is necessary to survive no matter who you are and what you believe AND all should have access to it and to honor the commitment of fellow aid workers on this World Humanitarian Day. I encourage and welcome y'all to join me and to share with those you know!
