Fuego y Agua is a run held in Ometepe, Nicaragua. There is a 25K, 50K, 100K, and 2-3 person 4 stage 100K relay. The relay wraps around the island, including a run around both volcanoes, on dirt roads, through jungle, towns, villages, cloud forest, cacao and banana plantations as well as white sand beaches. The mission of Fuego y Agua is to raise awareness of this island’s beauty, and to bring ecotourism to this island. Ecotourism refers to individuals who want to give back to the community such as this marvelous looking island with its beautiful sites from the voluptuous volcanoes to the tropical beaches. Before the race begins they offer time for the runners to volunteer their time cleaning up trash on the island in order to help preserve the beauty of the habitat.
The race is also to promote healthiness in the lives of everyone, from eating healthy to exercising and keeping a strong mind and body. There is a children’s race offered as well in order to raise the same awareness of healthiness, in addition to the endangered environment of their surroundings. The organization also collects running shoes for the school children of Ometepe. The running shoes are then distributed to the students after the childrens’ race. This year the race was held on Dec. 10 and the children’s race on Dec. 13, 2009. Josué Stephens, the brother of West Chester University student Gabriela Stephens, is one of the organizers. If you would like to obtain more information you can visit the website at www.fuegoyagua.org. You can also email the event at ultrafuegoyagua@gmail.com.
Suzanne Brady is a fifth-year student majoring in Spanish education. She can be reached at SB619873@wcupa.edu.