Couples Portland-to-Bellevue run raises enough money for eight African wells

What started with a bit of curiosity on the part of Bellevue’s Liz Strathy-Merrill has ended with a goal reached that will have a big impact on many.

Strathy-Merrill and her husband Nick Merrill were the subject of an Aug. 2nd story in the Bellevue Reporter, detailing the couples quest to raise money for wells to be built in African villages.

The couple had planned to run the 200 miles from Portland to their home in Newport Shores, each of them running 25 miles a day, to raise money towards the cause. Liz and Nick managed to raise enough money for eight wells, at the cost of $3,500 apiece, to benefit the Drop in the Bucket organization.

Drop in the Bucket is a non-profit organization that raises money to build wells in African villages and educates and empowers the villagers on how to maintain the wells.

Despite rain, stiff legs and close encounters with logging trucks, the couple completed the run with plenty of stories to tell.

On day one, the Merrill’s ran from Portland to Kelso, Wash.; Day two left led the couple to Centrailia, and day three ended at a bed and breakfast in Graham.

“Going into our adventure I expected day three to be the toughest,” Liz said. “Our legs had already covered 106 miles but still had 94 to go. And day four we knew we’d be running into the arms of our friends and family and adrenaline would see us through.”

But it turned out the beginning of day four, the final leg, was the hardest.

“As we closed the gap between us and home, strangely the miles seemed to drag,” Liz said. “We finally hit Renton and the sight of our training run road energized us.”

Four days after they left Portland, the Merrill’s ran into the arms of their family and friends.

“We covered the last five miles and ran hand-in-hand into a crowd of our neighbors, friends and family,” Liz said. “What a sight of beautiful smiles. I will never forget that moment.”

Though their run has long since finished, anyone interested in donating to the organization can do so by visiting Drop in the Bucket’s Web site at www.dropinthebucket.org.

“We all have our own special gifts we bring to the world,” Liz said. “If sometime you have an idea or a little push to make a difference, I urge you to take action.

“It might require some work or discomfort…Guaranteed, you will have the time of your life.”

Joel Willits can be reached at 425-453-5045 or at jwillits@bellevuereporter.com.