By Paul Dobbyn
CARITAS diocesan director Joseph Foley, teachers and students from archdiocesan schools are on the starting blocks of the Bridge to Brisbane fun run to raise funds for vulnerable families in Oceania, Asia and Africa.
Mr Foley said the 20-strong Caritas Ks team hoped to raise at least $5000 to ensure improved supplies of drinking water for people in these countries.
“It’s all about putting compassion into action … clocking up kilometres in solidarity with vulnerable communities around the world,” he said.
“Each and every day, thousands of women and children around the world need to walk many kilometres simply to fetch water, obtain food or get to the local market.
“On average, women and children in countries such as Mozambique, Uganda and Zimbabwe walk at least six kilometres a day just to collect drinking water.
“They do so often at great personal risk.
“We figure that a 10-kilometre fun run is the least we can do to help these people.”
It’s the first year Brisbane Caritas has fielded a team for the Bridge to Brisbane event.
Caritas Ks include Nick Fogarty (St Agatha’s Primary School), Duncan Maitland (Southern Cross Catholic College), Matt Beacroft (St Mary of the Cross School, Windsor), Paul Blinkhoff (St Francis College, Crestmead) and Paul Mitchell (St Flannan’s Primary School).
Mr Foley’s son Cameron and daughter Becky have also joined the team.
He was inspired to get a Brisbane team together after the success of Caritas fundraising in Sydney’s City2Surf event.
“Last year that team raised $10,000,” he said.
“This sort of money goes a long way towards helping vulnerable communities.
“For example $350 can provide clean filtered water to three households in the Philippines. “As little as $10 provides a family with a water filter to access clean, safe water and reduce water-borne diseases in Cambodia.”
Sponsorship is still required to ensure the success of the fundraising for the September 7 Bridge to Brisbane fun run.
Supporters can donate at https://b2b2014.everydayhero.com/au/caritas or contact Mr Foley on (07) 3324 3134.
The runs in Sydney and Brisbane are a prelude to next month’s challenge when Caritas members head for Africa to raise funds by trekking up Mount Kilimanjaro.
