Swank on Wigs and Water

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:23:29 -0000

Hilary Swank has launched an around-the-world relay race to raise money to help the over-one-billion people without safe drinking water. Last month, 20 athletes set out to run over 15,000 miles, 10 miles at a time, across 16 countries, 24 hours a day for 95 days. Organized by the Blue Planet Run Foundation, the relay runners should arrive back in New York on September 4 after having run 750 miles each.

Campaigning for the cause, Swank had this to say: "What if it were your job to carry in a rusty metal pail all the water you and your family would use for the day? What if the water made you sick? What if you had no choice? Making safe drinking water available is everyone’s problem, and it’s a problem that will take everyone to solve.”

Blue Planet’s goal is to provide safe drinking water to 200 million people for the rest of their lives by 2027. In the past three years, through Blue Planet funding of 11 NGO’s, 135 sustainable water projects in 13 countries have been implemented. According to Blue Planet’s creator Jin Zidell, $30 can create a lifetime of safe drinking water for one person. The Blue Planet Run will take place every two years.

Swank is also promoting the Pantene Beautiful Lengths Campaign, which donates real-hair wigs to women who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment. She is growing her own hair so that when it is cut later this year, she can give it to the organization.

She says, “I have lost multiple family members to cancer and witnessed their struggle first hand. I hope that my contribution will help to inspire others to get involved in whatever way they can.”

Big Shoes To Fill For Blue Planet Run

Sat, 07 Jul 2007 08:30:32 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

An unusual new exhibition is raising eyebrows in downtown New York. A series of giant running shoes, designed by 20 well-known celebrities, has been placed around the city to raise awareness of an enduro-sport charity event taking place during July and August.

Courteney Cox, Rosie O’Donnell, Ben Harper, and Rachael Ray are just some of the actors, actresses, and musicians to have contributed the oversized footwear to Manhattan’s landscape. Each giant sneaker measures 3 feet by 5 feet, and draws attention to the Blue Planet Run, the first ever round-the-world running relay, which started in New York on July 1.

This special sporting event will see an international team of 20 athletes attempt to cover more than 15,000 miles in 100 days to promote the need for safe drinking water. The relay passes through 16 countries, including England, France, Germany, Belarus, and Japan, before finishing in New York on September 4.

The event has been organized by the Blue Planet Run Foundation, an organization founded in 2002 to assist in providing safe drinking water to 200 million people around the world by 2027, and is sponsored by the Dow Chemical Company.

“I am proud to participate in this project to help decrease the impact of water related diseases,” said American Beauty and Six Feet Under actress Mena Suvari, who designed one of the 20 sneaker statues. “Everyone involved is enthusiastic about helping to make a positive impact on people’s lives worldwide.”

Also as part of the event, the giant sneakers are to be auctioned on eBay. The bidding starts at $500, and runs from July 2 to July 12. All proceeds go directly to the Blue Planet Run Foundation, and the auction can be viewed at www.ebay.com/sneakersandthecity.

Look To The Stars News: Blue Planet Run Foundation

Swank on Wigs and Water

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