H2OpenDoors Invites Bay Area Residents to Support a Great Cause by Registering for Upcoming Oktoberfest & Run Event

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Aug. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Mark your calendars: October 12 is the date for Oktoberfest & Run in Redwood City, an entertaining celebration of food and drink, with all proceeds going to worthy causes (http://www.oktoberfestandrun.com/). Along with the usual Oktoberfest activities, the day will feature a choice of three exciting races: a half marathon, 5K run/walk and 5Kolor run. H2OpenDoors, a project of the two Rotary Clubs of Redwood City, is one of three charities that will split 100% of the net proceeds from the day's events (http://www.h2opendoors.org/).

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130805/PH58091-a)

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130805/PH58091-b)

"H2OpenDoors is pleased to be a part of this event. Oktoberfest & Run is an opportunity to have a great time and make new friends while also supporting a worthwhile endeavor," explained Jon Kaufman, Coordinator for the Rotary Clubs' H2OpenDoors project. "I encourage everyone to register for one of a trio of races, supporting a trio of causes."

Registration is now open for all of the day's races, the first of which starts at 8:00 am (http://www.oktoberun.com/registration/). Both individuals and teams are welcome. Registration continues all the way to race day, but there are significant savings for early birds. As an added perk, anyone signing up for the half marathon or 5K can register for the 5Kolor run for free.

The 5Kolor run is new this year and is certain to be a spectacle for runners and spectators alike. For those unfamiliar with the format, every kilometer along the route will see the runners blasted with a different colored powder. A final, gigantic color explosion awaits runners at the finish line.

Beyond the beer and the running, Oktoberfest and Run has something to satisfy everyone. In the morning, visitors can participate in an energizing Zoomba warmup. Later, traditional Bavarian music and dancing will be the theme of the day. Kids can have fun at the video game pavilion or play in the bounce houses. Teens who might want an alternative to the traditional music and entertainment can participate in some urban beats and freestyle moves at the OktoberJam stage. Never has supporting local charities been so entertaining.

The Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club, which created the H2OpenDoors project, is one of three charities supported by Oktoberfest & Run. "Proceeds from the day will go toward making life better for the least fortunate people in the world, while engaging our local students in the work we are doing to bring safe drinking water to the most stressed places on Earth," Kaufman says. Redwood City Education Foundation, www.rcef.org, is also a beneficiary of the event.

H2OpenDoors was conceived to address the problem of clean water shortages in the developing world. Over 900 million people have no regular access to clean water; 3.5 million people die each year as a result of contaminated water. Over 4000 children under the age of 5 are dying every single day because of waterborne disease. Colorado-based SunSpring™ has engineered a solution to this perennial problem; their innovative filtration units can filter 19,000 liters of water daily using only renewable energy. Production costs are the major hurdle right now. At $28,000 per unit, the communities that most desperately need clean water cannot invest in such technology. That's where H2OpenDoors comes in.

Through private donations and community fundraising events (like Oktoberfest & Run), H2OpenDoors works to install SunSpring™ units throughout the developing world, helping communities dramatically improve their health outcomes. The most current installation at a hill tribe village of 2500 residents in Northern Thailand reduced incidents of chronic diarrhea by 75% in the first 5 months. The next installations include a high school of 2000 students in Myanmar.

As part of its mission to make the world a healthier place, Rotary International successfully tackled the worldwide polio crisis. Now, with the help of cutting-edge SunSpring™ technology and the generous donations of ordinary people, the problem of getting clean, safe water to the people who need it has a practical solution.

About H2OpenDoors

The mission of H2OpenDoors is to bring clean, safe drinking water to people across the globe. Charitable donations and proceeds from fundraising events all go toward the purchase of SunSpring™ microbiological water purifiers. H2OpenDoors also collaborates with local schools, integrating the project's humanitarian mission into the curriculum and giving a hands-on, impactful learning experience to the kids. The best performing students and their teacher get to accompany the installation team on an expedition that is life-changing.

About Rotary

Rotary is a nonpolitical, private organization of community leaders dedicated to humanitarian projects. The promotion of peace, health and wellbeing is the mission of Rotary International.

Contact: 
Jon Kaufman 
Peninsula Sunrise Rotary  
969 Industrial Road 
San Carlos, CA 94070 
650-520-6873 
www.H2opendoors.org

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SOURCE H2OpenDoors