San Diego Fun Runs Support Solar Projects in Africa
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA 
on 10.30.08
Image source: Sun Strides
Sun Strides is merging two things that southern Californian's love - the sun and athletic activities - to raise funds for solar projects in Africa. 5, 10, 15K, whatever your passion or punishment, there is a spot for you at the starting line. This past summer, Sun Strides put solar panels on a junior primary school in Arusha, Tanzania. Their next "hurdle" is to raise funds to create a sustainable volunteer camp in the same community.
Races are held regularly, with an Eco-Run, a Pumpkin Patch 5K, a Turkey Trot, and a New Years Resolution on the 3rd of January 2009, just in time to kick all of those new years resolutions into gear. Rachel Hiner and Mindy Rhoades, the organizers behind Sun Strides, also plan to host other parties and fundraising events over the next few months.
Hiner and Rhoades originally got involved organizing races for different charities, but never felt a direct connection with any of them. Then when the two traveled to Tanzania, their world changed. They met with several locals to get contacts and found a school that was being kicked out of its building and was moving to a new site with no electricity. The two changed all of their upcoming races to raise money for this school and Sun Strides was born.
The Shepherds Junior School, was built with a microloan from Epic Change, and the panels were installed by Helvetic Solar, one of the only solar companies that the ladies could find in Tanzania.
So if you live in San Diego or the surrounding area, strap shoes on your feet and get out there. There's a village in Africa that needs your help. To sign up for the next race, or at least find out how to get involved, you can find them online.
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I am such a big fan and supporter of Sun Strides and this is such as easy way to live green and support others in need! I encourage everyone who reads this to come out here if the snow gets too bad and run in 78 degree weather!!!!
As a resident of SD (and an athletic one at that) I really wish we'd use these funds to put solar panels, Oh I don't know, IN SAN DIEGO.
If this group would focus on SD instead of communities on the other side of the earth, I'd be a donating member.
===
Update:
There is a group that is working to put solar in San Diego - Grid Alternatives. Www.gridalternatives.org and anyone can volunteer to help install.
Good Point Eric, there are too many children and schools right here in San Diego that need help. Sounds like a fund raiser to send two girls on vacation to Africa.
Hi Erik and Agonizer,
You will be happy to know that Mindy and I along with two other volunteers paid totally out of pocket for all trip expenses and 100% of the funds we raised paid for the cost of the solar panels!
We decided to get these students solar energy because they had no access to electricity.
We encourage everyone to help out where they can regardless of location.
Check out the Thank You from Mama Lucy and the students at Shepherds Junior:
http://sunstrides.com/projects.html
Thanks!
The 2nd annual Temecula Turkey Trot was a blast, the course was a little hilly but fun and all the Sunstride people were exceptionally pleasant. Everyone just seemed to have a good time,
See you at the next one
Steve, Temecula
Erik, Agonizer,
I think most schools in San Diego have electricity... but I am sure there are schools in San Diego that could use some sort of help... go for it and donate to your local school or support one of the many San Diego school fundraisers out there.
Charity doesn't have to be an either or thing... There are many great causes out there to support!
Cheers
awesome
Sun Strides has dedicated itself to THREE goals: 1.) providing opportunites for healthy San Diegoans, and other runners, to become stronger and happier,: 2.) raising money for below poverty level children, educating them to read, write, and communicate with the larger world community,; and 3) engineering and training people in the value of solar energy rather than oil power.
The internet has created a very real global community. Children in Aftrica now can relate to us like our own children. It is no longer a world where only a few exceptional Africian people, like Barack Obama's father, can get a scholarship to Harvard, returning home to try and make a difference in his own African country.
Rachel Hiner and Mindy Rhoades are not multi millionairs, like Oprah Winfrey. She, too, is contributing to changing the lives of under privilieged children; and can spare enormous sums of money to for their education so that our world can be improved.
Hiner and Rhoades are two young women, with a passion for health, running, solar energy, and educating extremely underpriviledged children all under one unbrella --- Sun Strides.
Eric has a good point --- we also need to take care of poor children in our own home communitiies. We need to look around us and see where each of us can make a difference, where our own passion leads us to give to others. It truly is not an either -- or choice. It is a BOTH -- AND type of dedication that will change our world ---here and abroad.
Committing to solor energy and education, while simulteneously tackling our own health and obseity epidemic in the United States , is an amazing goal.
Having two young women, like Rachel and Mindy , dedicate their life energy to these THREE goals is igniting. Working in the sun, finding only one of a few resources which can supply solar power in Tanzania, and helping poor school children ---with no computers, moreless electricity-- is not a vacation. It is an inspiration.
Go Sun Strikes !! Raise lots of money -- Help us be healthy --- Educate and contribute to our world by creating a greener, energy efficient enviornment!
Even those of us who do not live or run in San Diego can contribute to their cause. Please tell us in what ways we can donate to Sun Strides ' vital mission.
Dr. Joan E. Winter