Girl's Dream of Providing Poor With Clean Water Comes True, Even After Her Tragic Death

Filed under:



A girl's goal to raise $300 for a nonprofit clean water group was cut tragically short when the 9-year-old died last week in car crash.

Rachel Beckwith, of Bellevue, Wash., needed about $80 to complete her goal of sending the money to charity:water, a group dedicated to bringing clean drinking water to poor nations, MSNBC reports. But now people across the world are hearing her story and sending in money that has topped $360,000 in donations, the Seattle Times adds.

After news of the girl's death and her goal made local news around Seattle, and soon spread worldwide through social media, contributors began making pledges on Rachel's webpage.

"What could have been simply a senseless ending to such a beautiful beginning of your story has turned into something so much more," an anonymous donor posted. "I hope that if at all possible the obvious compassion so many others have shown in taking up your empathetic cause brings some peace to you and your family."

Rachel became involved with charity: water through her church, according to MSNBC.

"On June 12th 2011, I'm turning 9," she wrote on her page on mycharitywater.org. "I found out that millions of people don't live to see their 5th birthday. And why? Because they didn't have access to clean, safe water so I'm celebrating my birthday like never before. I'm asking from everyone I know to donate to my campaign instead of gifts for my birthday. Every penny of the money raised will go directly to fund freshwater projects in developing nations."

Samantha Paul, Rachel's mother, posted ! on the s ite earlier this week that she is in awe of the reaction.

"In the face of unexplainable pain you have provided undeniable hope," she wrote. "Thank you for your generosity! I know Rachel is smiling!"

Scott Harrison, founder of charity:water, tells MSNBC more than 3,600 donations have been made. As of this morning, that number was up to 7,500, according to the Seattle Times.

"Her little dream of helping 15 people has turned into almost 10,000 people and counting," he tells the network. "I wouldn't be surprised if she gets 1000 times her wish."

Harrison tells MSNBC he has seen people rally around things like this before.

"The selflessness of a 9-year-old girl who said, 'I don't want a birthday party, I don't want gifts, I just want people to have clean water' - that's the way it resonates with people," he tells the network. "I'm not surprised it's resonated with Rachel's friends and church community and people around the world."

Permalink | Email this | Comments


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jenna Lyons divorce: Lesbian lover of J Crew boss outed as Courtney Crangi

Image
Add to My Stories Share The 'other woman' thought to have been behind the split of one of America's most influential fashion executives and her husband of nine years has been revealed. J.Crew president and creative director Jenna Lyons, who is divorcing her artist husband of nine years, Vincent Mazeau, is said to be seeing top jewellery executive Courtney Crangi, 38, according to the New York Post. The pair have been photographed together repeatedly over the years, most recently this summer. Modern family: J Crew' Jenna Lyons, left, posed with her son Beckett, 5, rumored girlfriend Courtney Crangi and Crangi's daughter Coco, also 5, on a red carpet in June 2011, as her marriage was ending In June they attended the WSJ OFF DUTY Summer Solstice Celebration together, posing for photographers with Lyons' son Beckett and Crangi's daughter Coco, both five. Ms Lyons and her husband are said to be in the middle of a messy divorce after splitting in the summ
Keep reading

BAFTA TV Awards 2011: The Only Way Is Essex girls lead the glamour

Image
Add to My Stories Share It was one of the most highly-anticipated events of the year, with the biggest names from the television industry attending. But at the Philips Bafta Television Awards it wasn't a TV veteran who stole the show but a group of relative newcomers - the girls from The Only Way Is Essex. Amy Childs, Lauren Goodger, Sam Faiers and Lydia Bright led the glamour last night as they arrived for the annual ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel. Essex girls leading the way: The Only Way Is Essex stars (left to right) Amy Childs, Lauren Goodger, Lydia Bright and Sam Faiers lead the glamour at the Bafta Television Awards Stealing the show: But it was Amy Childs who stands out from the crowd in her Pia Michi gold gown And it seems that the girls had possibly co-ordinated their outfits, as they all chose sparkly metallic numbers to pose on the red carpet. More... Daisy Lowe causes a stir in a see-through dress at the BAFTA Television Awards as she cuddles up to boy
Keep reading

Small Doses of Vicodin OK for Breast-Feeding Moms, Study Says

Image
Filed under: In The News , Breast-Feeding , Research Reveals Breast-feeding pain may be eased by small doses of Vicodin, a new study shows. Credit: Getty Breast-feeding may be a healthy and economical way to feed and bond with your baby, but it also can be a real pain -- literally -- for some moms who are still cramping and sore from mega hours of labor and C-sections, not to mention the whole nipple pinching thing. But now there's good news on the lactating front: Apparently, it's safe to pop a few Vicodin while you're breast-feeding. The strong painkiller hydrocodone , better known as Vicodin, may be safe in smaller doses for women nursing newborns, U.S. researchers tell Reuters . Only traces of the drug end up in the mother's breast milk, according to findings from a study out of the University of Toronto and the University of California San Diego . Researchers say in cases where weaker painkillers such as acetaminophen ( Tylenol ) or ibuprofen ( Advil ) don't t
Keep reading