Girls accept challenge to help needy on other side of the world

That’s what’s happening at Lake Mead Christian Academy, in Henderson. It started when junior Bianca Carpenter, at this year’s back-to-school retreat, decided she wanted to do something “big.”

The challenge she chose at the retreat: organizing a 5k run/walk to benefit a charity.

“I’ve never done anything that big before,” she said. “I thought, why not give it a shot?”

She invited senior Alayna McNamara along for the ride. McNamara, in turn, invited senior Shelby Sanchez. With help from Carpenter, McNamara and Sanchez have taken the reins and transformed the service project into their required school senior project. The Run to Save a Life 5k Run/Walk begins 8 a.m. April 18 at Equestrian Park, 1298 Equestrian Drive, Henderson. The event will benefit charity: water, a nonprofit that helps bring clean water and sanitation to places in need.

The event is not like the typical charity run/walks prevalent in the valley during this time of year.

Instead, participants will compete in teams of two to three, while wearing “crazy and silly” outfits, and answering trivia questions and riddles without the help of phones, according to fliers promoting the walk/run. Judges at the finish line will determine the winning team, based on who finishes the race with the most correct answers.

The $45 fee ($10 for kids younger than 10), includes a T-shirt, with all proceeds going to charity: water. Additional donations can be made on race day.

According to the nonprofit’s website, one in nine people around the world don’t have access to clean water. The organization provides solutions such as freshwater wells, rainwater catchments and sand filters, by funding programs of partner organizations.

Among the listed partners: Samaritan’s Purse International Relief; World Vision; Action Against Hunger ACF International; Clear Cambodia; Nepal Water for Health; and the Relief Society of Tigray.

But Sanchez has seen the problems of providing clean water up closer than a list of organizations. She says visiting Guatemala on mission trips in her freshman, sophomore and senior years opened her eyes.

“A lot of (people) are sick, and a lot of them die, because of the bacteria in the water,” Sanchez says.

She remembers traveling up a dirt road in her sophomore year, as part of the first mission group to visit a town on a hill. They played with the kids.

“They were so happy to play with us,” she recalls. “As a thank-you, they would hand us the little food they had, and water. You could tell that the water and food weren’t in the best condition.”

Sanchez says the run will also help Las Vegans get out and exercise, and get involved, beyond handing over money.

As of this week, the girls had signed up about 37 people. They’ve launched a website and a Facebook page; snagged some electronic billboard slots at a discounted rate; and raised money to cover race necessities. They’ve handed out fliers to running groups. And, they’ve circulated them through the arcane world of teen pageantry.

McNamara says the biggest challenge has been “to market it correctly. To pull at people’s heartstrings, to get their sponsorship and support, and get the word out there.”

Sponsorships were a mystery to her until Carpenter brought them to her attention, after getting the details on what makes a race successful from a triathlete friend of the family.

McNamara says she contacted about 50 companies, sitting at the computer for hours while sorting out the naysayers. Eight sponsors have given the race an extra nudge, so far, including Pole Position Indoor Karting, Purple Cow Digital Print and Flightlinez Bootleg Canyon.

“It’s been neat to see (the girls) do something that they’ve never done before, and learn what it takes to put together a race,” says Michelle Blakeley, a senior class adviser. “A lot of things that you don’t realize. Everything from timers to scoreboards.”

She says the youth camp-style retreat includes worship, music, games and bonding time. It also challenges students to put what they’re learning into action. This year, kids could choose activities from the easy box, the challenging box, or not choose at all.

Challenges might range from reading a chapter of the Bible per week or donating soda money — to organizing a 5k run for charity.

Shelly Johnson, who supervises the fingerprinting unit at the Henderson Police Department, says she’ll probably run and walk the event, with her two 4-month-old sons in tow, along with husband Aaron. She hasn’t decided whether she’ll dress up, although her sons might do the honors.

She heard about the race from Sanchez, who wants to join the FBI and interned at the police department. Johnson’s kids also attend the school’s nursery.

McNamara reminds people that the fun isn’t for runners only.

“I’ve had a lot of people say, ‘I’m not a runner.’ It’s open to walkers, and families, and children. It’s going to be so fun! There are so many prizes to choose from. And you get a T-shirt.”

Carpenter hopes to keep the project going next year as her senior project.

For more information and to register online, visit www.RunToSaveALife.com.