In August 2007, northern Ghana suffered heavy flooding. About 25,000 people lost their homes, and many more lost their crops. SIM Ghana responded with a relief project to buy food and build houses for people affected. SIM Ghana and the Bible Church of Africa have provided about 400 sacks of corn and built 80 new houses; an additional 70 homes are almost finished. However, there is still great need.

	Margaret and Sherri pose for a photo before the sprint triathlon began.

Creative Fundraising

SIM’er 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 another friend decided they needed a fitness goal to work towards. Sherri and Margaret had just returned from the North, where Margaret had been making a video about the relief project with Ruby Mikulencak, the SIM Ghana director. 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.

On May 10th, 16 people gathered for the “race for relief”. The day started cool and cloudy, but by 7 am, when the athletes started their swim, the sky was clear, and the sun was blazing. The first swimmers finished in 30 minutes and hopped onto their bikes for a 13 mile ride on rough dirt roads with two difficult hills. The race concluded with a 3 mile run. A physical education teacher finished in 1 hour, 38 minutes to win the men’s race. 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 said “I would do it again”!

A Team Effort

The whole event was a real team effort, with several of Sherri and Margaret’s friends racing, and others volunteering. Teachers from 3 Accra international schools also took part in the race, and students from one of the schools volunteered to be in charge of water stations. 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 show of support happened at the end of the race. Margaret had a puncture in the bike race and had to wait for a replacement, so she didn’t start her run until everyone else had finished. It could have been lonely and discouraging, but some of the runners ran extra laps beside her and others spread out round the track to cheer her on.

By mid-day everyone had finished their events, and $1600 dollars had been raised for the relief project. This is enough to build 3 new houses with cement foundations and zinc roofs, or to buy about 500 sacks of corn.

Give

The race may be over but the relief continues. Find out how you can support this project