The volatility and uncertainty of 2020 spurred CCH to try a new event, and you were here for it! “Walk With Us” was a challenge to walk, bike, or run 8 miles in 8 days October 1-8, 2020. We picked that distance because of the work we do in Haiti. In CCH’s partner community, Lavanneau, we work with the local school to provide better quality education for young students. We also offer low-cost healthcare at our Primary Care and Rehab Clinics in Jacmel. When families in Lavanneau need to see a doctor, moms, dads, and children must take a motorcycle taxi or walk 8 miles from their home to the CCH Clinics in Jacmel. The “Walk with Us” event invited folks like you to join in solidarity with our Haitian friends for a better tomorrow.
Thanks to folks like YOU, the event was a big success.
- 191 participants in the US and Haiti
- 18 peer-to-peer fundraisers
- 1,600 miles walked
- $19,000 raised for healthcare and education in Haiti
But don’t just take our word for it! A few of our participants share their thoughts below.
Janet Gonzalez: Haiti traveler and top fundraiser for “Walk With Us”
I am so happy for CCH and the success of your event! I think it was a great platform for fundraising. I was blown away by the generosity of the people in my circle who donated. I got teary-eyed as those donations came in.
Through helping to send teams of volunteers through my employer, Shenandoah University (SU), to work with CCH in Haiti, I would see the positive changes in those volunteers as they returned back to campus. Their stories mesmerized me of the needs they saw and the good work they experienced CCH doing. Then in 2018, I had the privilege of directly going to Haiti to volunteer with CCH along with a First-Year Seminar class from SU. My head was on fire with everything I observed! But what touched me so deeply was the unbelievable people of CCH and their unwavering dedication, positivity, smarts in an extremely challenging environment.
When I saw the posting for CCH’s “Walk With Us Virtual Fitness Event”, I knew this was a perfect platform for me to share with others what I directly know is a very worthwhile non-profit to support and a population of beautiful people who can use our help. Everything I experienced while in Haiti was so impactful thus it was so easy for me to share from my heart and mind. This is what I believe made my circle of donors give so generously.
Rev. David Milam: American Pastor and Haiti Volunteer
CCH supports Haitian-initiated ministry in medical, educational and leadership efforts. U.S. partners are warmly welcomed by Haitian nationals combining to make a real difference in people in Jacmel, especially impacting children and their families.
I joined “Walk With Us” because I love to walk. Having walked many CROP Walks in my day, it seemed a perfect segue to walk with those who walk regularly to get from place to place. My favorite part of the event was that I chose to walk at the same time as CCH’s Haitian staff were walking from the Lavanneau school to the CCH primary care clinic in Jacmel. I didn’t seem to have quite as much fun as their joy-filled walk [based on the video they sent]. But I was glad to be with them step-by-step, virtually.
Amy Kragh: Haiti Medical Volunteer
I have been a CCH supporter since I traveled to Haiti in the fall of 2016 to fulfill my community health nursing requirement for my BSN program. Little did I know that Haiti would steal a little piece of my heart!
I returned again in April 2018 with my daughter, Caroline. She returned in January 2019 with her friend, Jenna. Caroline and I would love to make regular trips to serve with the medical team. This year COVID-19 has made travel impossible but participating in “Walk with Us” helped keep us connected to our partners in Haiti.
Melissa Jean-Bart: CCH Clinic Coordinator in Haiti
We “Walked With YOU” in Haiti too. CCH staff, along with some of our partner school teachers, and farming co-op partners joined in our walk October 3rd. We wore matching T-shirts with our US walkers – although we opted for a light gray color to help deflect the heat.
I was reminded to keep an open and a flexible schedule in all things! Out of all the days, our blue truck carrying walkers to the start location had some mechanical problems on the day of the walk. It broke down on our way to Lavanneau which seriously delayed our walk start time. However, we were dedicated to see this through. When the truck broke down (about half way there), we started started walking towards our starting point: Lavanneau school. That added 3 miles to our walk, so 8 miles turned into 11!
The music was so pumping that bystanders joined the fun! We gave out a few masks to folks along the way and told them how to protect themselves against COVID-19. Without the music, I honestly do not know how I could have done it. I got my work out and my fun in at the same time! Thanks so much to everyone who walked, raised money, and prayed/cheered for us. We can’t wait to do this again next year!!
Click the YouTube thumbnail below to view a slideshow with more highlights from the event. And please consider joining us in October for our Jim Wilmot Memorial Golf Tournament. But act fast, Friday October 23 is the deadline to register!
