All across the world there are millions of children who are at risk of infection, disease and death due to the lack of proper footwear. A debilitating and dangerous infection called Podoconiosis can develop in those individuals who walk barefoot on the common red clay soil of Africa which can lead to lymphatic obstruction, extreme swelling to the feet and lower legs, and excruciating pain while walking. This disease is very common among the regional people of Africa, and also is 100% preventable. The easiest and most cost efficient cure for podoconiosis is the proper wearing of shoes which work to create a barrier between the feet and the disease carrying pathogens found in soil. This disease is mostly a disorder of the poor, meaning that the poor are most effected by the disease because they cannot afford to buy proper shoes for themselves and their children. Unable to provide this necessity, many children walk several miles to the nearest school barefoot, exposing themselves to the various pathogens found in the soil. Most children are even turned away from school for the lack of shoes, crippling them even further by denying them an education.

Join the McMurry community on April 5th, 2011 in going 10 mins, 1 hour, 1/2 the day or even the full day barefoot to help raise awareness here in Abilene about the dangers facing children around the world and bring a solution to this dilemma.

Sign our petition below and let us know how far (long) you will go to bring awareness to this important cause.

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