In August 2007 the north of Ghana suffered unusually heavy rainfall, causing flooding and destroying homes and crops. The worst hit areas were in Upper East Region, where SIM works in partnership with the Bible Church of Africa. About 25,000 people lost their homes, and many more had their crops destroyed.

In response, SIM Ghana started a relief project to raise money to buy food and build houses for people affected. So far, they have been able to provide about 400 sacks of corn and build 80 new houses. An additional 70 homes are almost finished. This is a good beginning, but there is more to do.
  
A team effort
SIMer Sherri Paulson and her friend, Margaret Buell, came up with a unique way to raise money for this project. They decided to hold a sprint triathlon.

The idea was born when Margaret and a friend were swimming together, and decided they needed a fitness goal to work towards. Sherri and Margaret had just returned from the North, where Margaret, who is a videographer, had been making a video about the relief project with SIM Ghana Director, Ruby Mikulencak.

An idea began to take shape: they would invite their friends to join them in the triathlon, and use it to raise money for the relief project. Word spread and on 10 May 16 people gathered to take part in the ‘race for relief’.

The day started cool and cloudy, but didn’t stay that way for long. By the time the first event, the half-mile swim, started at 7 am, the sky was clear and the sun was already hot. The first swimmers were finished in about 30 minutes, and went on to the next event, the bike ride – 13 miles, with a couple of nasty hills and some rough dirt roads.

The bike ride was followed by a three-mile run. The men’s race was won by a P.E. teacher, who finished in 1 hour, 38 minutes – an impressive feat in 90-degree heat. Another teacher won the women’s race in 2 hours, 4 minutes.

Commenting on the race afterwards, Sherri said, ‘the running--which is my best area--was brutal! When I hopped off my bike, I couldn't feel my legs--they were shaking!’ Even so, she maintains a sprint triathlon sounds scarier than it really is, and even said, ‘I would do it again!’

The event was a great team effort, with several of Sherri and Margaret’s friends racing, and others volunteering. Teachers from three Accra international schools also took part in the race, and students from one of the schools volunteered to man water stations.

Help is still needed
Other friends, including members of HCJB and SIM, offered support in various ways, from timekeeping to cheering. And when the chain came off Sherri’s bike, a passerby fixed it for her.

The most impressive expression of support happened near the end of the race. Margaret had a puncture in the bike race and had to wait for a replacement, which meant she didn’t start her run until everyone else had finished.

It could have been a lonely, discouraging run, but other runners who had already completed their own race ran extra laps beside her and spread out round the track to cheer her on.

By mid-day the race was over. Everyone had finished their events, and US$1,600 dollars had been raised for the relief project. This is enough to build three new houses with cement foundations and zinc roofs, or about 500 sacks of corn.

The race may be over, but relief for the flood victims is still needed. If you would like to help, you can send your gift to the SIM-UK office, marked for project 94839. Alternatively, you can give online by clicking on the link below.

DONATE ONLINE