Boys in Ghana demonstrate that reading really is fundamental.

Africa collects books – and money to buy books – in the hope of ending the “book famine” in Africa. The charity’s latest fundraiser is a three-day walk from Menomonie to St. Paul, which kicks off with an event at the university library. Since the group was founded in 1988, in has sent 28 million books to 48 countries, and 77-year-old founder Tom Warth doesn’t seem to be looking to stop any time soon. He will be leading the 68-mile walk while carrying a book to donate. In fact, besides being encouraged to college monetary pledges, everyone completing the walk will carry a book along to donate. The three-day trek along back roads is broken into two 11-mile segments each day. (If walking isn’t your thing, participants have the option of running or biking.) UW-Stout has supported Books For Africa for more than 15 years by donating old books from its textbook rental program. In addition to the books donated for the event, the first $10,000 raised from the walk will help pay for a shipment of books to the home region of Alexander Ogundele, a UW-Stout alumnus from Nigeria who was interested in the walk before returning to Africa. Any money raised over $10,000 will support the Million Books for The Gambia project. Participating in the walk is free, but donations are appreciated.