Church 5K to fund Zimbabwe water well

THE Court Drive Church of Christ (in Palestine) will host its fourth annual “Zim Zipper” 5K Run/Walk on April 1.

“This race is a great way to get out and have some fun with your friends for a great cause,” said Lisa Harroff, race coordinator.

Court Drive Church of Christ began the “Zim Zipper” as a fundraiser for the church’s Zimbabwe missions in 2013.

The event was coordinated by the mission group at the church.

In addition to Court Drive Church of Christ’s local missions, which include a food pantry, crisis center and Refuge of Light, a mission group travels every other year to Zimbabwe to provide a medical and teaching mission trip.

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south.

“We are hoping to raise enough money this year to build a community water well,” said Pastor Paul Jones.

“In the past, we built water wells, but the government began asking for us to give them the money to build the wells, so they could be in control of where the well was built, and so forth. However, a community there has made a request for one and the government has given us permission to build it.”

The total cost for the well is estimated at $15,000, Jones said.

The church previously built a well, along with retention tanks, for the clinic that it supports and hopes to be able to raise enough to build this second one for the community, Jones said.

“This well will not only provide them with clean drinking water,” said Jones. “It will also help provide water that will give them the opportunity to grow crops even during the drought seasons.”

Beyond the well, the church continues to support a clinic, providing prenatal and wellness visits.

They also provide food to rural areas to help with nutrition, Jones said.

The 5K Run/Walk, which will start at 9 a.m., on April 1, begins and ends at the church, located at 1434 Court Drive in Palestine.

A 100-meter dash for children 10 and under also will be held.

Pre-registration is $20 per person in advance and $25 the day of the race.

Registration forms are available at the church. — Source-Palestine Herald

The 5K Run/ Walk, which will start at 9 a.m., on April 1, begins and ends at the church, located at 1434 Court Drive in Palestine.