Introducing “Activewater Powered by Lifewater”

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to spend time in Cambodia with a good friend of Lifewater, Daren Wendell. On this trip, we were visiting project sites that his non-profit organization, Activewater, had been serving in partnership with Lifewater. As we visited these communities together, I couldn’t help but feel more and more certain that God was inviting us into something bigger.

Daren and I sat down one morning on this trip and began dreaming about the possibility of a new and expanded partnership between Lifewater and Activewater.  This is something that had been on my mind for a long time, and after much prayer and consideration, I asked Daren if Activewater would consider joining the team at Lifewater. Three months later, the Board of Directors for both organizations unanimously approved this new team, and today we are excited to officially announce that Lifewater and Activewater have joined forces.

In 2008, Daren and co-founder, Amie Hadaway, felt a clear call from God to get involved in the world’s water and sanitation crisis. With blood, sweat, and tears, they built Activewater from the ground up. Through fundraising and education, Activewater focuses on using the athletic lifestyle and grassroots campaigns to bring clean water solutions, hygiene training, and sanitation to communities in need across the globe. Activewater seeks to equip passionate people of all ages and all talent levels to expand their reach and effectiveness as fundraisers so that more life-saving resources can reach families in need.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that this was the kind of organization and people that we want to serve alongside. Beginning in January, for example, Daren is running 100 marathons in 100 days as an effort to build awareness and funds for the world’s water crisis.  Daren and Amie are so passionate and dedicated to this cause. It’s really inspiring! And this is just one example of the many events Activewater is enabling and supporting across the nation, encouraging passionate athletes to contribute to something far-reaching and incredibly worthwhile.

Activewater is reaching a very specific group of dedicated athletes that we want to work with.  We believe that Lifewater can provide necessary support in order for Activewater to continue in their efforts to build funds and awareness through athletic events. We also plan to really free Daren and Amie up to focus solely on what they love and are called to.

Because the issue of clean water is a global issue, we realize we cannot do this alone and that the more we join forces and share in this fight, the more effective and efficient we can be. Through our combined efforts, projects, and successes, we will raise even more awareness surrounding this issue and therefore will be able to provide clean water, sanitation resources, and hygiene training to more people in need.

Check out Activewater.org for more information and how you can get involved!

Lifewater International is a non-profit Christian water development organization dedicated to effectively serving vulnerable children and families by partnering with underserved communities to overcome water poverty. With experience in more than 40 countries since 1977, Lifewater serves people of all faiths, focusing on contextually appropriate water sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) development. For more information, contact Christine Zurbach (czurbach@lifewater.org) or visit www.lifewater.org. Lifewater International is based in San Luis Obispo, CA.