A local version of the Step up for Somalia fundraising trek is in the works.
Eight Somali-Canadians raised $21,000 for the famine-stricken country through a fundraising walk from Calgary to Edmonton last week. The youth stayed overnight in Red Deer on Friday.
Inspired by the group, the Global Enrichment Foundation with the Central Alberta Diversity Association will plan a walk within Red Deer to raise money and awareness for the famine-stricken country.
A planning meeting is set for today at 7 p.m. at the The Hub on Ross (4936 Ross Street). A tentative date for the walk as scheduled for Aug. 27.
Organizer Karen Luukkonen, who housed the group in Red Deer, said the walk needs to be soon because the need is now.
Luukkonen said the details will be sorted out at the meeting, including the route and the fundraising options.
“Canada had drought and problems in the 1930s,” said Luukkonen.
“My dad was 16 years old and he had to leave the farm in Saskatchewan and walk to find work to send money for food back to the farm.”
Luukkonen said while there’s a lot of political differences, Canada and Somalia have a lot in common. She said her family depended on people for help along the way.
“That really personally to me brings those people very close to me,” she said. “Because if people hadn’t helped my dad in Canada, I wouldn’t be here.”
All donations for the Somali relief efforts received by Sept. 30 through the Global Enrichment Foundation will be matched by the Canadian government.
For more information about the walk, contact Luukkonen at luukkonen@shaw.ca.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com