Eric Hanson and myself, Stephanie Fisk, are two “graduates” of the Jan ’07 World Race team, and we are now on staff with Adventures in Missions. Even though the race is over, our journey in fighting for justice is only beginning. You are each invited to join us March 23-31 as we set out to raise awareness on the Modern-day slave trade. Please read the recent press release below.
We are encouraging those interested to join a nation-wide informational call from Mar. 23rd through Mar. 31st, at 8pm CST. Each night, a guest speaker from one of the sponsor organizations will share more about the effort to end slavery. Everyone is invited to join the calls, but there is a limited number of spots available. To call in, dial 1-218-486-1600 followed by the access code 472085#. Please click here to read about the speakers!
To find out more about the bike ride and how you can get involved, please check out our website at www.freewebs.com/baht and listen to a recent radio interview http://stevebrownetc.com/podcasts/ping/human-trafficking/
Team Up, Gear Up: Biking Against Trafficking
Anti-slavery activists raise awareness by biking and hiking to the Grand Canyon
Although slavery was outlawed more than a century ago in the States, a modern slave trade industry is flourishing around the world – and a group of twenty-somethings who have seen it firsthand are doing something about it.
“I will never forget their eyes,” said 26-year-old Stephanie Fisk of Milford, IA.
“They are no longer the nameless and faceless. Their stories are etched on my heart and into my mind.”
Fisk, who worked with marginalized women and children in Thailand and Cambodia, along with Eric Hanson, 24, of Phoenix, AZ, have teamed up with several anti-slavery groups to raise awareness about the 30-billion dollar a year industry. By helping coordinate a 450-mile biking and 20-mile hiking event, the duo also expect to raise money for nonprofit groups that are working to end a practice called, “human trafficking.”
“When you see that these are real people – people who you can talk to and laugh with – then something in your heart is changed,” said Hanson.
“You start to see the world in a new light, and you realize that you can do something to help change these people’s lives.”
The two cyclists are coordinating a long ride for the week of March 24-31 that culminates with a hike through the Grand Canyon. Both the ride and the hike are open to the public – for either the whole event or a portion of it, said Hanson. Both he and Fisk were participants of The World Race, a volunteer experience that took them to a dozen countries in one year. Today, they are staff members of Adventures in Missions.
They are calling the ride “Team Up, Gear Up” and hope to win more advocates to the cause of abolishing slavery. Social justice organizations such as NightLight, ALERT, Not For Sale Campaign, Make Way Partners and others are sponsoring the event.
Nearly 27 million individuals are caught in the global slave trade. Vulnerable individuals are often tricked into becoming sex slaves, bonded servants, or child soldiers. Many are trafficked across borders and live in a state of hopelessness. This is taking place in developing countries, but also in America. The U.S. not only fuels the rising demand of this industry, but aids in supplying the appetite abroad. Hanson and Fisk have experienced first-hand the tragedy of this worldwide injustice and are so moved with compassion that they can not forget what they have seen and are compelled to share with others to bring it to an end.
To read more about eric or stephanie – or to check out their blogs while on the World Race, please check out thier personal blog sites at www.erichanson.theworldrace.org or www.stephaniefisk.theworldrace.org.
