Children from Malawi gather around a water-pump provided by the Irish Red Cross. May 2008

There was great support and enthusiasm from women who came from all over Ireland on Monday to take to the sunny streets of Dublin to walk, jog and run the 10km stretch in aid of Irish Red Cross water and sanitation projects in the southern African country of Malawi.

Thanking the women who participated, John Roycroft, Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross said: "Women and girls suffer particular hardship as a result of water shortages in Africa.

"These Irish women are helping to ease their suffering by raising much-needed funds and also awareness of their plight. Congratulations to all who took part in the run."

And it's still not too late to donate to Irish Red Cross work in Malawi.

Donations can be made by calling 1850 50 70 70 or you can make an online donation

• The average person in Europe uses approx 200 litres of water a day. However, in the developing world this figure drops to 10.
• Daily journeys of up to five miles to get water are not unusual for African women and children.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that each year African woman and children spend up to 40 billion hours year collecting water.
• Poor sanitation, hygiene and unsafe water claim the lives of an estimated 1.5 million children under the age of five every year.

In addition to raising funds for Malawi, other Irish Red Cross fundraising initiatives were also undertaken in relation to recent disasters for Myanmar (Burma), China and for some local Irish Red Cross branches to support their work in Ireland.