The second race in the RunTex Distance Challenge series has a familiar distance—10 miles—but an unusual name: The EAS Run for the Water 10-Miler. Now you might think the run-for-the-water part of the November 11th race has something to do with Barton Springs, Hamilton Pool or Lady Bird Lake or some other local body of water. You’d be wrong.

Run for the Water is in reference to the beneficiary of the race—the Gazelle Foundation—that has made as its primary task the funding of wells in Burundi, the small Central African country which is the homeland of Gazelles’ leader Gilbert Tuhabonye and his cousin Bernard Manirakiza. Profits from the race are earmarked specifically for the building of wells.

The Gazelle Foundation is about a year old. It came about as the result of a discussion local runners Paul Pugh, Peter Rauch and Tuhabonye were having during a long run. Pugh had just returned from a trip to Ethiopia where he had done work for Habitat for Humanity and was so inspired, he mentioned how he wanted to do something similar in Austin.

"We all felt that we wanted to do something, here in Austin, that could give back to the community," says Tuhabonye, one morning over coffee. "So we got a lawyer, filed the paperwork and started the Gazelle Foundation as a way to raise charitable donations for various projects that would change peoples’ lives, both here and in Burundi." Rauch is the president of the Foundation, Tuhabonye is the chairman and Pugh serves on the seven-member board.

The first project of the non-profit Gazelle Foundation is the funding of wells in certain villages in Burundi. "Water is the most important thing for the people," says Tuhabonye who grew up in the village of Fuku before coming to the United States and eventually going to school at Abilene Christian. "There isn’t good water there and what water is there is often a mile or two away. Where I grew up, we’d have to walk a mile each way several times a day for water."

But building wells (as well as collecting and treating the water) is expensive. Tuhabonye estimates it will cost as much as $25,000 per well to build, but each well can serve as many as 3-4000 Burundians.

"Our research shows that there are two basic types of wells," says Rauch. "The first and most common are shallow water wells that can cost from $1500-15,000 based on a number of factors such as soil condition, water table depth, climate and proximity to services. These are often hand-pumped wells and serve about 400 people. Deep-water wells are more expensive, but provide a more reliable water source, especially during a drought. They cost between $18-25,000 and require a hand pump but can serve as many as 3000 people. 

"It’s hard for Americans to understand the importance of these wells. We just turn on the tap and there’s water," says Tuhabonye. "For someone in Burundi, they have to walk over hills to get the water and then haul it back. It’s very hard, but it’s obviously so essential for life there."

Profits from the EAS 10-Miler will go to the Gazelle Foundation which will go to toward building at least one well. "We plan to provide water one village at a time," says Tuhabonye who moved to Austin in 2001 and has been a fixture ever since.

Building the wells is just one project on the Foundation’s docket. Closer to home, the Gazelle Foundation is also planning to provide at least one scholarship per year to a qualified, underprivileged Central Texas child.

"This race is just a first step for us," says Tuhabonye. "It will help us raise money, but it will also bring awareness about our Foundation and the work we are trying to do. It will let the Austin running community know that we exist and our