CORCORAN, Minn. — Friends, family and even strangers are coming together to honor the memory of an Orono High School senior killed in a car crash Sunday night.
As of Thursday evening, a fundraiser Luke Knudson had created to benefit the Samburu Project, a nonprofit organization providing clean water for people in Samburu, Kenya, has collected $147,000 in donations from hundreds of people.
On the evening of his death, the 17-year-old was working on his fundraising page—a project that was close to his heart, Luke's mother Renae Rhude-Knudson told KARE on Tuesday.
The project was inspired by the Knudsons' family trip to Samburu, Kenya. There, Luke befriended the family's tour guides Simon and Beko, who taught him about their traditions, customs and way of life. That's when Luke learned, Rhude-Knudson said, how difficult it is for the Samburu people to access clean water.
After returning home to Minnesota, Luke was tasked in a school leadership class to create a project focused on helping his community. His experience in Kenya left him determined to do something meaningful for the Samburu people. “He so wanted to make a difference for them, and they were so excited about it,” Rhude-Knudson said.
“When he came home, he just Googled, 'Samburu, water,' and somehow found our website,” said Linda Hooper, executive director of The Samburu Project. “He just wrote an email to our info email box, [saying] ‘I’ve been to Samburu and I have the idea that I would like to drill a well for my guide's family and village. Is this something that you can help me with?’”
Hooper and her team, who are dedicated to providing Samburu people with clean water through hand-pump wells, were eager to help. “This work allows us to connect with people all over the world who just want to do a good thing in the world,” Hooper said.
Since his passing, Luke’s initiative to build a well for his guides’ village gained traction. His initial fundraising goal of $24,000 for one well was met with overwhelming support. Donations continue to pour in. "We are as astounded as his family,” Hooper said.
"He always said when we came home, 'I can't wait to go back,'" Rhude-Knudson recalled. Though Luke will never return to Samburu, his once-in-a-lifetime trip has become a lasting legacy.
The Samburu Project usually builds about 10 wells per year, each one benefiting approximately 1,000 people. Hooper said multiple wells will be built by next summer using funds raised in Luke's memory.