DOWNEY - More than a billion people in the developing world don’t have access to clean drinking water, and many have to walk miles to find the nearest clean-water source.

The Downey High School Thirst Project Club, a student-led organization whose aim is to bring safe drinking water to communities around the world where it is not available, is asking students and adults across Downey to walk the same distance -- about three miles miles -- to help raise enough money to build two fresh water wells In developing countries.

The event is called the Walk for Water and it’s happening this Saturday, March 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Downey High School track.

“Our goal is to have the whole city of Downey walking around the high school track, which means we could fund two wells and bring clean drinking water to people in the developing world from that one day,” said Diana Mae Baliscao, the club’s president and a senior at Downey High School. “Think about it. Three miles is the average women and children walk for water in the developing world just to fetch water that is not even clean, we get to experience walking in their shoes at our walk.”

This inspired group of Downey students have been planning and coordinating the Walk for water since the beginning of the school year and have partnered with different schools not only in Downey Unified School District but all over the region. Many parents, teachers, and students will be bused in to attend the Walk for Water.

The Challenge

Downey High School’s 2nd annual Walk for Water will be held at Allen Layne Stadium, in Downey High School. Those who attend the event will have the opportunity to walk 12 laps around the track or less carrying water in either water gallons or jerry cans depending on the participant’s ability.

All ages young and old will be able to walk in the shoes of women and children who suffer from water scarcity. Most importantly, participants will be part of raising $24,000 to build two wells in developing countries.

The event will also have fun activities for children, informational booths and water awareness exhibits to bring awareness to the global water crisis.

The group aims to bring awareness to how many people around the world don’t have clean water. According to a report from the World Health Organization and UNICEF, 844 million people don’t have access to safe water. That’s one of the major factors for diarrhea, which kills 801,000 children each year, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We are inspired to do this walk because of the staggering number of people who lack access to clean water, a resource us in the United States don’t think twice about,” said Jordan Guerrero, senior at Downey High School.

The cost to participate in the Walk for Water is $25 for adults and $10 for DUSD stuents with ID. Kids ages 4 and younger are free.

Pre-registration  is available online at my.thirstproject.org/event/downey-walk-for-water/e254594

Onsite registration will also be available the day of the event.