A project like this, some will say it's a drop, but it is with all of these drops that we will create an ocean," Lt.-Gen. Romeo Dallaire told the crowd of around 350 people at the Run for Water gala on Thursday night.

The Run for Water participants and run organizers certainly got a push in the right direction, as Dallaire spread a message of national responsibility to aid impoverished nations during his keynote speech.

Both the gala and the Sunday morning run aimed to raise money to bring clean water to villages in Ethiopia.

The gala evening started with a dinner at Phoenix Lounge with Dallaire, who served with the Canadian Armed Forces for 35 years and earned numerous honours, including the Order of Canada in 2002. A small group of about 20 people, including Dallaire, were at the dinner.

He said giving impoverished people access to water is an important step in preventing conflict in those affected areas.

During his talk at the larger gathering, held at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre, Dallaire spoke about the importance of having troops in unstable countries for as long as it takes.

"We've got to be ready to be there for 40 years," said Dallaire. "The aim is to prevent those countries from going catastrophic."

He also talked about his experiences in Rwanda in 1994, which is the topic of his 2003 book, Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda.

The book documents his struggle, and ultimate failure, to keep United Nations troops in Rwanda during the genocide in that country.

Dallaire said Canadians have a responsibility to help struggling peoples around the world, and that we as a nation are recognized by our fundamental belief in human rights.

Ray Zahab, who ran across the Sahara in 2006, learned first-hand about the seriousness of the clean-water crisis in Africa.

"Water is the basis and foundation of every community," Zahab said.

Abbotsford city councillor Dave Loewen said the Run for Water event speaks to the generosity of the community of Abbotsford.

"This event epitomizes what the community of Abbotsford, what the people of Abbotsford are all about," he said.

The participants in Sunday's run lived up to that endorsement, almost doubling the total amount of money earned from the previous year.

In all, the event raised $150,000 ($81,000 in 2009).More than 2,300 runners competed in the event, compared to 1,700 participants last year.

Tatsuya Hatachi was the top male finisher in the half-marathon, while Sarah Reimer was the top female finisher. Both of them received $500 in prize money.

The 10K top finishers were Phil Ellis and Alma McMurty, while the 5K top finishers were Jeremy Vanwoerden and Cori Witvoet.

The Envision A Better World: Learn, Create, Run program winners were: South Poplar Traditional Elementary (Woody Bradford and Heather Peters) for most the participants, at 89 runners.

Clayburn Middle School won for the most fundraising (Trish Ratcliffe and Jasbir Singh). They raised more than $5,200.

The Envision Mayor's Representative Award went to Abbotsford Christian Elementary (Roy van Eerden, Donna Stelpstra, Michelle Ekkert), who raised more than $6,800 for the cause and had 68 participants.

All the winning schools received $1,000 apiece to go toward educational supplies.

Altogether, schools raised more than $22,000, which is enough for one village to have clean water.

Next year run organizers are planning to add a marathon distance to event. The race day is set for May 29, 2011. See more about this ongoing program at www.runforwater.ca.

editorial@abbotsfordtimes.com