What is the Walk 4 Water?

The Walk 4 Water is an initiative run by WaterAid Australia. We are asking our supporters to walk 10,000 steps a day during October to get healthy and raise funds for WaterAid’s essential work delivering projects that provide safe water, sanitation and hygiene education to the world’s poorest people.

Supporters who register online via www.walk4water.com.au before 25th September 2009 will receive a free pedometer to track their progress.

Anyone can do the Walk 4 Water and everyone who signs up can use our great online calculator to measure the amazing impact of all that walking.

10,000 steps sounds like a lot – how far is that?

It is a lot! It works out to be around 5km’s or 100 minutes.

If you wear your pedometer all day you’d be surprised how much walking you do without trying (to the photocopier, to the kitchen, to a meeting etc).

If you think that sounds tough, just think of the good it’s doing you and imagine having to walk that far every day of your life, with 10-20 kilograms of water on your head!

What happens if I don't manage to do 10,000 steps a day?

Participants are encouraged to walk 10,000 steps a day but of course this won't be possible for everyone.

Walk4Water is meant to be fun, relaxed but challenging.
From WaterAid's point of view, we hope the challenge will get you thinking about the burden and distance endured by those in the developing world every day for their basic water use. We also hope that the experience of doing this for a month will get you talking about our work and asking for financial support.

Can I fundraise offline (not using my Everydayhero page)?

We encourage you to direct all of your sponsors to the online option. If your supporters are so desperate to help that they’re throwing cash at you, consider transferring the money onto your ‘hero page’ on their behalf. WaterAid has a relatively small team of staff to deal with receipting requests, so any help you can give us from your end is greatly appreciated.

What is a reasonable fundraising target?

The sky’s the limit!
On average, expect people close to you to contribute at least $25 each.

Eg. $500 = 15 friends + 5 family members

How do I ask people for money?

It's up to you to decide the best way to approach family and friends for sponsorship
We expect that everyone participating in the Walk 4 Water will do some fundraising via our online fundraising page
Once you and/or your team sets up an everyday hero online fundraising page, it's really easy to send an email around to your most special (and generous) people with a link to the page, and a little message saying, "sponsor me! Help me save lives!"

When will I receive my Pedometer?

If you registered prior to the 25th September 2009, then you (or your team leader) should receive your pedometer in the post by Tuesday 30th September.

If you registered after the 25 September 2009, unfortunately you won’t receive a pedometer.

Will you keep me updated during October?

Yes! We’ll send you an email just before the start of the Walk 4 Water. We will also send you weekly updates throughout October, with tips for walking, fundraising and will share some highlights and stories from you, our sensational walkers!

I have a question not answered here – who do I contact?

Email us at watercharity@wateraid.org.au or call 1300 858 022