By Nikki Wilson
ACU alumn Alex Wann, and students from the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Science are coming together to honor the life of ACU bus accident victim, Anabel Reid. Anabel had a deep love for the Lord, and a fiery passion for making an impact in the lives of those who are in need of clean drinking water and thirst for Christ, Wann said. It is now their desire to pick up the baton she carried.
“To glorify God, to celebrate Anabel’s life, to help people heal, and to make an impact through clean drinking water ministry,” that is the mission statement behind The Anebel Reid Run for Water.
With this goal in mind, the ACU community is hosting a fundraiser to raise money for the Water4 Anabel Reid Memorial Fund. This money will benefit those in other countries without clean drinking water, and build wells in areas of need.
The fundraiser consists of a 24-hour run/walk at Elmer Gray Stadium March 23-24. From 6pm-6am, participants are encouraged to recruit sponsorship to every mile they run in order to raise the money.
If someone isn’t much of the runner, another way to get involved is to volunteer. There are several other needs that need to be met, and information about the fundraiser can be found on facebook.com/runforanabel.
As the event draws near, the excitement is building for those involved. Anna Ciufo, freshman pre-veterinarian major from The Woodlands, plans to attend the event and is happy to see people all over campus coming together for this event.
She said, “I’m so excited about it and think it’s really cool. Anabel made such a difference in our lives and I like that people are wanting to carry on her goals. I feel everyone is really coming together for this.”
Mandy Scudder, administrative assistant in the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, is an important hand in the development of this fundraiser. She continuously said that this entire event is a time to honor those in the bus accident, but more importantly honor God in their efforts to help others.
“We get to honor Anabel with this event, and fresh drinking water will be taken to those who need it. Its almost like we can hear her cheering us on,” said Scudder.
With positive response from the student body and the Abilene community, Scudder was encouraged by the desire of so many people to get involved.
“The response from campus has been nothing but positive. I am not surprised on how the community has come together; God has been present in so many ways,” she said.
Scudder said, after all is said and done, she hopes people really take heart to what the run was about.
“Living this life is not about you or me, its about an openness and willingness to what God has for your life and that’s exactly who Anabel was,” she said.
