HATTIESBURG, Mississippi (WDAM) – The second annual Rodney Richardson Water Run took place Saturday in Hattiesburg.

The run is organized in support of Ddembe Ministries, an organization that helps women and children in Uganda.

Runners could participate in a 5K water run or a 1-mile fun run.

Each race began on Saturday morning in Townsquare Park.

Organizers said they had seen an increase in attendance and increased proceeds to benefit the West Africa mission, even though Saturday’s event was only the second time it had been held.

“Last year was so much better than I could have ever imagined,” said Ainsley Richardson, executive director of Ddembe Ministries. “A lot of the proceeds were used for everything we do in Ddembe with our children’s home and things like that. We make sure our children have a roof over their heads and something to eat every day and can also go to school.”

“This year we hope to achieve even more and we are well on our way. We have already collected more support this year than we did at the run last year.”

The race is named in honor of Rodney Richardson, one of the co-founders of Ddembe Ministries, who recently passed away.

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