Hobbema is taking the initiative to raise funds to build a water well in Africa.
The fundraiser was organized by Ashley Dennehy, who recently returned from a trip to Lundazi, Zambia. She saw women there who walked miles to get clean water for their families and she intends to raise $10,000 to build a sustainable borehole in an area of Lundazi where she stayed. This will give women there access to clean potable water where they live.
People are asked to bring their pledges July 19 to the Samson administration building in Hobbema and then walk approximately one mile with two empty milk jugs. Those jugs will then be filled with water and participants will walk back to the administration building. Dennehy sees this as an opportunity to get a feel for what women in Lundazi are going through.
“Creating awareness is the most important part at this point,” she said.
Dennehy feels Hobbema can be a role model for other First Nation communities. “It offers global thinking. I really like the quote, ‘Act global, think local.’”
Registration starts at 8 a.m. and one lane of the Highway 2A will be closed with a charity check stop on the route. This will give motorists an opportunity to ask questions about the fundraiser and to make a pledge as well.
Dennehy is apprehensive about the walk having to carry water for the whole trip but feel “it’ll be worth it.”
A barbecue will follow for participants.