On January 12, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, and surrounding areas. Buildings laid in heaps of rubble, clean water supplies were destroyed and other basic necessities lost. The death toll continues to tick higher. The earthquake only exacerbates severe economic and health problems for the least developed country in the Western Hemisphere. Prior to the earthquake, only half the population of Haiti had access to clean drinking water and 30 percent had access to adequate sanitation.

Corrigan Sports Enterprises (CSE) had previously announced that they would host the Dow Live Earth Run For Water on April 18, 2010 as part of 21 international runs that will be held simultaneously around the globe.  Now with this devastation, in addition CSE is moving to assist the people of Haiti today, months before the race is even held.

Teaming up with charity partner Global Water Challenge, CSE will make an immediate donation to the relief efforts in Haiti and we urge you to help. For every person who registers, CSE will donate funds to purchase five gallons of water for the people of Haiti in addition to the money generated from this event for global water issues.

While aid continues pouring into Haiti, logistics of aid distribution have been difficult. Food, medicine, shelter and water are all in high demand. Water will continue to be an issue, long term. Jonathan Wiles of Living Water International predicts “water sources are going to be contaminated with cholera and typhoid and beyond surviving the first week, the problem of surviving the disease will become an issue starting in the next couple of weeks.   The population of the Port-au-Price, near the epicenter of the quake, is going to be fleeing into the outlying areas. The villages are going to be quickly swelling in population, and whatever they have is not going to be enough.”

To Register for the Run For Water, held at National Harbor on the Potomac on April 18, 2010, visit the registration tab on this site.