'Concern for Haiti Run' Benefits Earthquake Survivors

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Mar 30, 2010, 04:16 ET

Runners, sponsors and donors wanted urgently!

NEW YORK, March 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The earthquake that hit Haiti Jan. 12 triggered a full-scale response by Concern Worldwide, the international humanitarian agency -- but delayed preparations for one of Concern's major annual fundraisers.

All the proceeds from this year's Concern for Haiti Run on April 10 in Central Park will go to support emergency efforts in Port-au-Prince. "With the rainy season about to bring more misery to earthquake survivors who have little shelter, donations are crucial," said Siobhan Walsh, Concern's Executive Director.

"But this late in the game, we are making an urgent appeal to runners, sponsors and donors to make the Concern for Haiti Run a success," she said.

"The crisis in Haiti has been fading from the headlines, but the needs on the ground remain enormous. The scale and complexity of the problems are overwhelming," said Walsh, who just returned from visiting Port-au-Prince. "Seeing the chaos in one of the many camps after a night of heavy rain brought home what a long road these people have ahead of them."

"Amidst all the tragedy," she said, "what gives the survivors and Concern staff hope are the Child Friendly Spaces we're setting up in the camps and in the slums. They provide a haven for children -- they are the only places where I heard singing and laughter." Concern has opened three Child Friendly Spaces so far, and more are planned.

Concern has been active in Haiti since 1994 and has a current staff of almost 250, most of whom are Haitian. Its emergency efforts focus on water and sanitation, health care, shelter & camp management, emergency nutrition, and emergency education. Concern works in 28 of the world's poorest countries, including 17 sub-Saharan African nations, and reaches some 23 million people.

Runners -- and walkers -- are encouraged to register and recruit sponsors for the 4-mile event in Central Park on April 10. The race starts at 9:30 AM. For more details or to join, call 212 557 8000 or visit www.concernusa.org. All can enter Central Park at 102nd St. and Fifth Ave after 8:00 AM on the day of the event.