THE SONDER PROJECT | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
WALKING FOR WELLS A STORY OF PERSEVERANCE
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues ,
Kurt Freudenreich and his Walking for Wells team is the kind of story that helps us persevere .
Ever since Kurt sponsored a young girl in Bangladesh through another organization , he was on a mission to bring clean water to a community in need in the developing world . When he discovered The Sonder Project in January of 2019 , he found the perfect partner to realize his vision .
On April 4 , 2020 , while much of the world was on lockdown , Kurt set out on his mission . He called it “ Walking for Wells .” His objective ? He would hike the 3,100 mile Continental Divide Trail to raise money to drill wells with The Sonder Project . Along the way , he met other hikers , including James Stiely , who decided to join his cause . They continued on in solidarity with women in Sonder Project partner countries who had to walk hours every day to collect water . They walked so that these women would not have to .
“ Walking for Wells ” was the uplifting story we needed during the first months of the pandemic . Their journey was not easy . But as we followed them along their hike , enduring blisters , the heat , snow , sore muscle , hunger — and a lack of water — we were reminded of our own struggle to persevere in the face of great challenge . We were reminded of the struggle people in our partner communities face every day .
It took Kurt 146 days to finish the trail , completing the walk on August 25 , 2020 . James had to step off-trail on November 2 due to heavy snowfall , but he ’ ll return to complete the journey in the Spring . Collectively , Kurt and his team have raised over the $ 11,000 needed to fund the drilling of a well in the community of Wanga . Kurt plans to continue walking until he raises enough money to fund a total of 10 wells . He plans to start the Appalachian Trail in the early Spring .
Happy trails , Kurt and James !
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