Anglican Communion News Service - Digest News

The Bishop of Iowa Alan Scarfe is gearing up to run the next New York marathon in November to help provide clean water for other Communion dioceses around the world.

Bishop Alan has appealed to members of his diocese to support this "out of the ordinary idea" by pledging an amount per mile for the gruelling run.

"A marathon is 26.2 miles which would translate into $26.20 per dollar pledged per mile," said Bp Alan. the New York marathon is a nationally televisted event, and many use it to bring attention to their important causes. Our has been clearn water in our partner diocese and particularly through the creation of Water of Hope. I want to promote Waters of Hope as I run."

"It is not easy to get into this marathon, but the organisers are sympathetic to those running for special causes. I want to run for the cause of clean water in our partner dicoese in the Communion, particularly Swaziland, and the Nzara diocese in the Sudan, and for related water disaster relief projects in Pakistan.

"I also hope to bring some wider attention to the great compassionate efforts of the people of the Diocese of Iowa which have been such a part of our common life in recent years."

Bp Alan went on to explain that he has special links with Pakistan through him hometown of Bradford in England is a major center of Pakistan immigration therefore he also sees the run as contributing to good Christian-Muslim relations in the Anglican Communion.

 "At a time of tested relationships between the two faiths, this is a small moment of witness to god's love through our caring."

Bp Alan has asked Episcopalians in his diocese in Iowa, USA, to prayerfully consider pledging money to support the causes and also reach out to friends, family and colleagues to also donate at www.iowaepisopal.org

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• Waters of Hope is a grass roots project committed to raising funds to provide clean water to benefit our global brothers and sisters. Founded in 2008 with a 10-day bike ride around the Diocese of Iowa, Waters of Hope has continued to raise funds with bike rides in Missouri and Nebraska.