24-Hour Relay in Santa Barbara will help women and babies in Africa

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Seventy-four women from all over the country are bringing their running shoes to Santa Barbara for a 24-hour relay to help save the lives of women and babies in Africa.

On sunrise on Friday the runners will take turns doing a 6K loop every couple of hours with a total of 1,000 miles covered by all the participants in 24 hours.

The event is called the Women for Women 24-Hour Relay and the participants range in age from 11-71 years old.

The goal is to raise awareness and funding to implement sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene into rural health clinics in Africa where women are currently giving birth with no soap, water or bathrooms on the premises.

They are doing this to protect frontline healthcare workers, reduce illness, and help save the lives of mothers and babies.

The World Health Organization estimates that over 400,000 babies lives could be saved with access to clean water and proper hygiene practices.

Pregnant women walk for miles to deliver their children at clinics and they have to bring their own water.

One-third of healthcare facilities in the developing world do not have soap and water for handwashing.

Brianna Hammond is the only participant from Santa Barbara and she is trying to reach her fundraising goal of 10,000.

If you would like to help visit her page at:

https://www.teamworldvision.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantID=367266

The group is hoping to raise one million dollars overall.

The runners will start at Chase Palm Park and then at night they will run at La Playa Stadium at Santa Barbara City College.

They will finish at sunrise on Saturday near the volleyball courts at the beach.