Empathy in Action: Understanding the Water Crisis through Our Jerry Can Relay Race

This year, at our 15th Annual Strides for Africa Run/Walk, we hosted our Jerry Can Relay Race. Participants raced to a nearby body of water in Madison, WI, filled a Jerry Can, and hurried back to the finish line. This wasn’t just a fun challenge—it was a tangible way to connect with the reality faced by millions in Sub-Saharan Africa every single day.

In many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls walk an average of six hours daily to collect water, often carrying heavy Jerry Cans weighing up to 40 pounds when full. This task is not only exhausting but also time-consuming, taking away from opportunities for education, work, and personal growth. And even after all that effort, the water they collect is often unsafe to drink, leading to a cycle of illness and poverty.

At Strides for Africa, we’re committed to breaking this cycle. Through our work, we’re not just reducing the time it takes to collect water—we’re ensuring that the water is clean and safe. By creating new, accessible water sources, we’ve drastically cut down the journey to clean water from hours to minutes for thousands of people. This means more time for education, more opportunities for economic growth, and most importantly, better health outcomes.

The Jerry Can Relay Race was a way for our supporters to walk in the shoes of those we aim to help. As they raced, they felt the weight of the Jerry Can and the urgency of the task, but they also felt the hope that comes with knowing that change is possible.

Each step taken in Madison brings us closer to our mission in Africa: ensuring that every person has access to clean, safe water. The funds raised through this event will go directly towards building more clean water sources, transforming lives, and creating opportunities for communities to thrive.

Thank you to everyone who participated, donated, and supported our cause. Together, we’re making strides for Africa—one step, one well, one community at a time.

#StridesForAfrica #CleanWaterForAll #WaterIsLife #JerryCanChallenge #GlobalImpact