Eielson teens go on 30-hour hunger strike for less fortunate Published Feb. 26, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Nora Anton 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Twenty-five teenagers here took a pledge Friday afternoon, and committed to go without food for 30 straight hours, while playing educational games and having an all-night lock-in at the Aurora Conference Center. Their cause is to "starve out world hunger" by creating empathy within themselves and raising funds for the charity, 30 Hour Famine, started by group World Vision. The teens, who are members of the protestant youth group Oneighty, have raised $3,500 since the fundraiser began Feb. 1, it will run through March. 5. "I've got 25 kids in here who made a resolve at 12:30 today to not eat for 30 hours," said Rob Bandy, Protestant Youth of Chapel director. "I don't know many teens who can go more than an hour without eating something." The teenagers consumed nothing but water for their entire famine. "I believe it is the right thing to do," said Chris Brewer, a student at Ben Eielson Junior/Senior High School and son of Maj. Steven Brewer. "You don't realize what they go through every day, this [the hunger strike] is just a small slice of what they go through." Emily, a fellow BEHS student and daughter of Chief Master Sgt. David Hafner, said that by not eating, the group is making a difference in themselves as well as the world. "This way we can try to feel what they're going through, and by donating money, we can buy them food," she said. "I'm hungry, but this is worth it." The youth group chose this particular charity compared to others because of immediacy, said Mr. Bandy, a former staff sergeant with the Air National Guard. "There are so many different charities you can take part in, whether it be towards the AIDS epidemic or something like women's rights in the middle east," he said. "The AIDS cause is waiting on science to be fixed, women's rights is changing the way someone thinks, but you can solve world hunger immediately by feeding those who are hungry." Statistics from the charity's official Web site report that 29,000 children each day die of hunger or diseases and subsequent health problems indicative to hunger, and 850 million people around the world don't have enough to eat. "We wanted to show our kids that it's so easy for us to open the fridge and grab something to eat, or take our glass to the faucet and get water," Mr. Bandy said. "But there's a whole world out there we are trying to expose them to." Although the night had more serious undertones, the children played games and learned about the parts of the world mostly affected by hunger, learning statistics, geographical facts based on region and played a variation of Survivor where the children were put into roles of children living in Uganda. The children made a bet with Mr. Bandy and Staff Sgt. Jeromy Walsh, 354th Fighter Wing Judge Advocate. "We told them if they made $3,000 that they could shave Jeromy's head and color and cut mine however they want," said Mr. Bandy. "And if they make $5,000, then ... I'm going to wax my legs." Funds raised by 30 Hour Famine participants help feed and care for children in poverty-afflicted countries around the globe. 30 Hour Famine funds contribute to World Vision's response in areas where famine, conflict, and other crises make children vulnerable to hunger and preventable disease. Since 1992, 30 Hour Famine has raised more than $100 million, representing countless saved lives. World Vision works in 100 countries, helping approximately 100 million people every year. To make a donation to 30 Hour Famine, contact Rob Bandy at 372-1433. For more information, visit www.30hourfamine.org or www.worldvision.org. John Yeager contributed to this article.