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Jerome Active Water 5K Runs for Clean Water

Five years ago, Ryan Horner started the Jerome Active Water 5k, a running and walking race that his family puts on in their hometown of Greentown, Indiana. As his younger sister Stephanie describes it, Ryan started the race in 2012 after hearing about Activewater’s mission at a Christ In Youth event, where he felt called to be a part of the work of bringing water and sanitation to families in Africa and Asia. For the past four years, Ryan organized the 5k event to raise money and awareness for the needs of people he’s never met.

“Over the past few years the race has become important not only to Ryan but also to our entire family—our summers revolve around it,” says Stephanie. This year, Stephanie, a senior at Johnson University in Knoxville, Tennessee, took over in her first stint as race director. According to Daren Wendell, Lifewater’s Investor Relations Manager, “she knocked it out of the park!” (Wendell is a co-founder of Activewater, Lifewater’s athletic division.)

On July 23rd, over 100 racers and dozens of volunteers participated in the 5th annual race, held at Jerome Christian Church in Greentown, Indiana. Stephanie says the whole family gets involved and volunteers their time. Her dad makes each of the wooden prize awards by hand in his own shop.

“With all of their help, the race got off the ground and we had another successful year this year. It’s always a stressful time for our family, wondering how race day will go, but looking back it is evident that God was with us every step of the way,” says Stephanie.

The Jerome Active Water 5k raised $3556.73 this year, which will go to help vulnerable children and families in Africa and Asia find health, dignity, and community through water, sanitation, and hygiene.

We are so grateful to Ryan, Stephanie, and their entire family for taking on such a challenge year after year. They are such an encouraging reminder of the lasting impact families and communities can have when they take on challenges together.

Choose a Village. Change a Life.