The luxury of clean, safe water is often taken for granted. In facilities across campus, students can turn a knob and out comes ready-to-drink water.

However, organizers and participants of the Carry 5 Walk for Water fundraiser want people to think twice about the value of water while raising money to provide underserved communities with access to clean water.

This weekend, participants will walk five kilometers carrying a five-gallon container of water weighing about 40 pounds around Seward Park.

“This gives people a firsthand estimate … into what women and children in developing countries experience every day,” said Sara DeRuyck, an instructor of a global health seminar at the UW and a board member of Water 1st International.

The fundraiser has already collected more than $15,000 in online donations. The proceeds will benefit Water 1st International, a local nonprofit organization supporting clean drinking water projects in developing countries like Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Honduras and India.

“We’re spending no money, so whatever we gather will go directly to the cause,” said Christine Stickler, the director of the UW Pipeline Project and a board member of Water 1st International.

Earlier this month, a miniature version of Carry 5 was held on the HUB lawn to raise funds and educate students about water accessibility and sanitation problems. Students were each given a five-gallon container of water to haul across the lawn.

One of the root goals of the organization is to provide access to clean water to prevent diseases and the cycle of poverty.

“[Water] is the first line of impact,” DeRuyck said. “There are so many development areas that need to be addressed, but you can’t really impact communities until you have impact on clean water.”

Traditionally, women in developing countries are responsible for the five-hour routine of collecting water. A closed water source allows women to spend their time in school, rather than transporting water. They can then also help to lead and sustain the water systems that are supported by Water 1st International.

But the Carry 5 event is about more than raising awareness about safe water, it also provides a channel for action through fundraising.

“It’s important for people to have opportunity to learn and give back,” said Nancy Chang, a UW alumna and the founder of Carry 5. “The kinds of programs that I like to do are for experiential learning.”

Jennifer Johnson, a senior majoring in philosophy, was inspired after taking DeRuyck’s global health seminar class. She became co-captain of a Carry 5 team and is organizing a team for her class.

“I want to stay involved with [DeRuyck] and the organization,” Johnson said. “Clean water should be a human right.”