Aug 2–9 · Kickoff Fundraiser
THE 12,000
KM CHALLENGE
by The Student Water Project
Run, walk, bike, or swim from anywhere in the world. Every kilometre brings clean water closer to students in Kenya.
by The Student Water Project
Run, walk, bike, or swim from anywhere in the world. Every kilometre brings clean water closer to students in Kenya.
The 12,000 KM Challenge is a student-led fundraising campaign organized by The Student Water Project to support the Rianyabayo Memorial Academy water initiative in Kenya, where a solar-powered UV water treatment system helps provide safer drinking water for students. Read more
Together, participants will work toward a collective goal of travelling 12,000 kilometres — symbolically representing the distance between Canada and Kenya — while raising funds and awareness for our clean drinking water initiative. Throughout the week, participants will receive leaderboard updates, fundraising milestones, and community highlights as they contribute toward the shared goal.
Register via our Zeffy site. The registration fee is $15.00.
Once registered, you can join an existing team or create your own. Come up with a creative team name or use a company name. The team raising the most funds and the team running the most kilometres will each have their team name engraved on a UV system.
In your registration receipt, we have included a Google Form. This is where you will fill out your pledged race week distance goal.
During race week (Aug 2–9), submit your tracking proof via Strava, Apple Health screenshots, Google Health, treadmill workouts, and more.
Every step YOU take = clean water for students who walk kilometres just to drink. Make it count.
Create a personal or team fundraising goal and get your whole crew — friends, family, classmates, neighbours — to sponsor your kilometres. Every dollar supports clean water access and UV treatment at Rianyabayo Memorial Academy.
Donate directly below, or register to set up your own fundraising page and compete on the leaderboard.
Who's leading the pack? Check the top fundraisers in real time and climb the ranks.
Prior to challenge week: Ensure that your pledged distance goal is submitted. You can check our leaderboard for team distance standings.
During challenge week: Track your distance using Strava, fitness watches, phone health apps, treadmills, or screenshots from any tracking tool. Every KM counts!
Submit distances throughout the week so the whole community can watch us smash toward 12,000 KM together.
Strava · Apple Health · Google Fit · Garmin & GPS watches · Treadmill readouts · Any screenshot showing distance + date. Once registered, we will provide details about real-time distance submissions.
Two winning teams will be immortalized as part of the Rianyabayo water initiative — engraved on the UV reactor.
The team that raises the most funds will have their team name engraved onto the UV water treatment reactor installed for the project.
The team that completes the greatest total distance will also have their team name engraved onto the UV reactor as part of the initiative legacy.
The UV water treatment reactor — your team name could be here
Every registered participant, no matter what team, will receive a participant kit. Use these goodies to spread the word about the challenge and get friends and family excited.
Student-designed TSWP stickers · Student-designed T-shirt (Jay Barclay, Art student at UTM) · Personalized message from our committee
Follow our Instagram for the latest participant resources: @thestudentwaterproject
Use the hashtag #tswp12000km. Tag us in your posts or send them to us by DM!
We will be in contact via email.
Stay up to date with all challenge events, deadlines, and milestones.
The incredible students powering the 12,000 KM Challenge.
The Student Water Project empowers students to support real-world clean water solutions through fundraising, education, and youth-led action. We believe students can change the world — and we're proving it.
By connecting students across communities, we turn awareness into measurable impact for schools and communities facing water insecurity — starting with Rianyabayo Memorial Academy in Kenya.
Interested in sponsoring the 12,000 KM Challenge or partnering with The Student Water Project? We would love to hear from you. Reach out and let's make an impact together.
studentwaterproject@gmail.comWant to personally reach out? Contact our team leads directly.
