Maple Valley Philanthropist Walks For Water

Maple Valley Philanthropist Walks For Water

By Joan Fornaciari

In the eyes of those who know her Tonyia Cairns is a giver. She has spent years in the Maple Valley area giving her time to a variety of efforts such as the Tahoma PTA and faith formation program at her church. Most recently she has focused on helping the citizens of Ghana gain access to clean water. Through her association with Water Access Now, Tonyia learned about the challenges of those in West Africa to obtain potable water on a daily basis, and are therefore at risk for water-borne illness and parasites.

Cairns was offered the chance to travel with the local Water Access Now group to Ghana, and while she considered the opportunity she also opened up her heart to other ways she could contribute to their efforts. She says she knew she had a choice to act or not, and in the end she answered the call to service along with formulating a fundraising plan to build wells for those in need. Along the way her husband, Mark, was inspired to join the group.

Tonyia shares that the plan came together through faith and learning to trust herself and the work of the Holy Spirit. She committed to raising money for the wells by walking 300 miles and securing donations and pledges for the cause. While walking each day, in the excessive heat of the season, she thought about the women and children in Ghana that must walk great distances each day just to collect water and then carry it back to their homes. This daily burden carried Tonyia forward in her quest to improve quality of life for these individuals.

Not only was Tonyia able to raise enough funds for one well, but also a second well. She is overwhelmed by the response people have had to her project, and feels blessed by their willingness to support her and Water Access Now. The next step is travelling to Ghana, along with her supportive husband, where they will see first hand what life is like for the more than 9 million people who lack access to clean water.

For more information on how you can help, please go to: wateraccessnow.org.