Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
WEST MOUNTAIN — Laura Belk has the perfect idea to help you to burn the calories you ate during Thanksgiving and the ones you are eating now.
Belk is looking for people across the Wasatch Front to join her in a walk she's doing to spread awareness. In honor of the work she and her nonprofit do in Ghana — and to honor the home country of her youngest child — she is calling on all folks to help her walk a total of 7,084 miles, the distance from Payson to Accra, Ghana.
This does not need to be done individually. Groups of people are encouraged to form a team to walk together, helping to keep each other accountable. You also do not have to walk on a treadmill or in the neighborhood to get the miles, although you certainly can. Walking on the golf course? That works. Moving along in the mall as you get your shopping done? That checks the box.
All you have to do is register for the walk, which costs $30, and find people to sponsor your walk, if you feel called to do so. All of this is a project dear to Belk's heart.
"When we adopted our daughter, who has Down syndrome, from Ghana, we were shocked at the conditions for children who had a disability or were dismissed in some way," she said. "I wanted to adopt all of them, but my husband told me we could not. So I started a nonprofit, and we're doing this virtual walk to Ghana to raise money for better conditions."
Strides for Hope: Community walk of 7,087 miles, the distance from Payson to Accra, Ghana.
Who: Anyone and everyone can participate.
When: Now through Dec. 31.
How to get more info and register:charityfootprints.com/strideforhope/.
To learn more about Nurturing Nations, visit nurturingnations.org/.
Nurturing Nations is the nonprofit founded by Belk and her husband, Mark. Since opening their doors 10 years ago, they have built a school in Ghana, provided meals for children, built a library in a village and paid for medical care. They have also expanded their programs into Mali.
No employee in the United States receives a salary. They are all volunteers who try to spread awareness of their work. One hundred percent of any financial donation goes directly to West Africa.
They also offer humanitarian opportunities for people able to go to Ghana. Not everyone can afford a trip to West Africa or even has the time to do so. As such, the virtual walk to Accra is a way to get everyone involved in their work.
That's the point.
"This is a very doable activity to do. You do not have to give $1 million to make a difference. This little bit will be great," said Mark Belk, co-founder of Nurturing Nations. "You can also do it together. You don't have to do it alone. And it's a great way to continue your fitness routine."
The situation for children with disabilities is pretty dire in Ghana. Often given up by their mothers, these children become part of a marginalized population that has to turn to prostitution to survive. They are also easy prey for human traffickers.
Belk may not have been able to adopt every child who needs to leave frightful conditions, but she has opened her home to whomever she can. Mother to nine children — four adopted internationally, three of those four with special needs — she is accustomed to doing everything she can to help her children, those in West Mountain and in West Africa.
It is a lot of work, but she said she would not have it any other way. And she knows other people want to help as well.
"We feel like people don't always connect with each other. The walk will help you with that," Belk said. "And you can save a child. I need people to help me (with the miles) ... so this walk will help everyone."
