Stepping out for water cause

OPINION

Living in Australia, it is not very often we think about where our water comes from.

Turn on the tap in Bunbury, Perth, Port Hedland, Newman or Karratha and out flows clean, safe drinking water.

In Hedland, bottled water is the preferred choice of many residents who needlessly complain about the heavy mineral taste of the tap water.

In the North West Telegraph office, like many offices and homes across town, sits a water dispenser topped by a large 10 litre blue plastic bottle filled with "natural spring water".

But in developing countries, the lukewarm water that flows from taps across the Pilbara is a luxury most will never experience.

Having spent a year living in Malaysia and travelling across South East Asia, I saw firsthand the devastating effect unsafe drinking water has on lives including premature death from horrific and preventable waterborne illnesses.

I believe access to clean water is a basic human right.

This is a belief shared by a number of my fellow colleagues - journalists, sub-editors and an editor from the West Regional Newspaper Group.

Together we have formed the Running on Deadline team to take part in Care Australia's Walk in Her Shoes Challenge.

From Monday to Sunday next week each of us will walk at least 100km or about 14km per day.

The challenge aims to raise awareness that every day women and girls in Asia and Africa walk an average of 6km to collect water, food and firewood, carrying around 15 to 20 litres of water on their head or back.

All funds raised through this challenge will help reduce the long distances these women and girls walk, and help them spend more time in school or learning skills to earn an income.

By the end of next week we hope to have raised $2000 - enough to install a supply of clean water in four communities.

I'll be clocking up kilometres on the treadmills at Wanagkura Stadium and around the streets of South Hedland.