Alya Calligaris

Walk for Water: A Journey of Steps and Stories

Every step we take tells a story. Some of us walk for exercise, some for leisure, but for millions of people around the world, walking is survival. They walk not to clear their mind, but to collect the most basic necessity of life: water.

For me, this isn’t just an abstract idea. Growing up in Russia, we barely had hot water. Sometimes there was no running water for days, sometimes for a week or more. On weekends, when the supply was shut off, if you wanted even a cold shower, you had to boil kettles of water and pour them into a basin. That was normal life for me until I was around ten years old.

Today, living in Australia, my three children grow up with baths, hot showers, and even a swimming pool. Something I once considered a privilege is now their everyday normal. And it makes me realise how lucky we are. Clean, running water isn’t just comfort, its dignity, health, and opportunity.

The Walk for Water is more than a charity event, it’s a symbolic act of solidarity. When we walk together, step by step, we experience just a glimpse of what it feels like to be in the shoes of those who must walk miles every day for water that is often unsafe to drink.

Here’s the powerful part, our steps can change stories. Each stride in this walk helps fund clean water projects, bringing wells, pumps, and filtration systems to communities that need them most. It means less time walking and more time learning, working, and thriving. It means healthier children, empowered people, and stronger futures.

This ride/walk/run is not just about distance. It’s about connection, awareness, and change. When we walk for water, we walk for hope.

So, lace up your shoes, bring your family and friends, and join the movement. Because together, we can turn miles walked into lives changed.