Shaun Cumming and Corinna Eccles will take on a 60km walk for water
Almost one in ten people across the globe do not have clean water close to home. With water central to human health and a fundamental right, it is an alarming figure.
To assist efforts to provide universal and equitable access, Barwon Water leaders are preparing for an ultra-marathon through the heart of the Great Otway National Park.
Board Director Corrina Eccles and Managing Director Shaun Cumming will tackle the 60km-long trek from Lorne to Apollo Bay for the annual ‘Walk for Water’ fundraiser this October.
They are encouraging businesses and community members to join them in raising funds for WaterAid through sponsoring or joining the ‘Walk for Water’ fundraiser.
“The clean, safe and reliable water supply that our customers tap into is not something other parts of the world can take for granted,” Mr Cumming said.
“While we’ve picked this physical challenge, hundreds of millions of people don’t have a choice – they have to go on long and tiring walks every day to get clean water for their family.
“The time-consuming task to collect water often falls on women and children and has flow-on impacts, limiting access to school and work and perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality.”
Over the past two years, the pair have completed ‘Walk for Water’ runs along the Moorabool, Barwon and West Gellibrand rivers, which support supplies for Geelong and Colac.
This ultra marathon will start at the drinking water source for Lorne (the St George River), before finishing at Apollo Bay’s drinking water source (the Barham River).
Mr Cumming said the activity also aimed to highlight the environmental and cultural value of the waterways we all rely on.
“The health of our rivers is deeply connected to the health of our environment, economy and communities,” he said.
“With the population growing as rainfall is expected to decline in a drying climate, the pressure on our rivers is increasing.
“We need to continue our focus on using water efficiently and diversifying to non-rainfall dependent sources like desalination and recycled water.”
The initiative encourages people to support the work of international not-for-profit organisation WaterAid by walking, running or riding from 19 October to 23 October.
For more information and to donate to Barwon Water’s ‘Walk for Water’, visit https://fundraise.wateraid.org.au/fundraisers/barwonwater2026
Funds raised will support WaterAid’s initiatives to provide clean water close to home, in schools, and at healthcare facilities.
