San Diego Fun Runs Support Solar Projects in Africa
by Kristin Underwood, San Diego, 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.
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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