Freedom 4/24 race for the lives of those who are victims of human trafficking in Lynchburg and beyond

There are two 18-year-old girls, the very same in age, intelligence and a vibrance for life. 

One lives in Lynchburg, Virginia. One lives in Bangkok, Thailand. The girl living in Virginia wakes up for her 8:15 class in her Commons dorm room, carefully trying not to wake her roommate and stressing about the test that she forgot to study for. The girl in Bangkok wakes and starts making her way to the bar to make it in time for work, hoping to make enough money to feed her children dinner. 

The girl in Lynchburg finishes her test in relief and goes to eat with her friends, spending the rest of the day working on a paper for her Research 201 class. The girl in Bangkok is purchased and expected to provide sexual services to the buyer. 

The girl in Lynchburg continues her routine for the next week. The girl in Thailand continues this routine until one day, something out of the ordinary happens. 

She’s at her bar expecting someone to pay for her services, but instead, someone who looks different than the usual customer walks through the door and pays the fee. But to her shock, she is given the day off, she learns of another way to provide for her family, a home she can come to, an education she can receive so that she doesn’t have to work in the industry to feed her children. She is given an option, whether she is ready to take it or not, and she knows there is someone who cares for her wellbeing. 

There are millions of girls who don’t just live in Bangkok but may even live down the street from the Liberty student who have similar stories. However, far too many of their experiences do not have the same ending as hers. It is situations like this that inspired the birth of Freedom 4/24, a local anti-human trafficking organization. 

The real-life story of the girl in Bangkok was seen first-hand by founder of Freedom 4/24, Christine Gelatt, on a summer trip she took as a Liberty student working with a group called Home of New Beginnings. Home of New Beginnings is committed to building relationships with women in the sex industry, providing a way for them to leave. They receive a safe place to heal and to receive an education, something poverty has not allowed them to obtain. 

Freedom 4/24 is now actively working to prevent and end sexual exploitation and human trafficking both locally in Lynchburg and globally around the world. 

On April 21, Freedom 4/24 is hosting a Kids 1-Mile Fun Run for children 12 and under at 7 p.m., including a Family Fun Night from 5-8 p.m. April 22 is the “Run 4 Their Lives Lynchburg 5k Run/Walk” for all ages at 9 a.m. Both of these events are taking place at the Liberty University Indoor Track and Natatorium.

The races are to help raise awareness of sexual exploitation and human trafficking across the country and fund their mission of prevention and restoration. 

Registration is $15 for the Kids Fun Run and $30 for the “Run 4 Their Lives Lynchburg 5k Run/Walk.” Registration will end for the Kids Fun Run on April 21 and April 22 for the 5k. Liberty students can use the code LUSTUDENT to bring their registration fee to $21. 

The Family Fun Night will not just have the race but also a prevention education interactive station, a free fitness course, children’s cross-fit training, bounce houses and more. There will also be a video game trailer from Glitched gaming with five TV screens playing all different video games and a DJ for music throughout the event. Black Pit Barbecue, Rookie’s and Domino’s will also have food trucks open at the event.

Lauren McQuillan, the events coordinator for Freedom 4/24, said they ask runners to write on their arm whom they will be running for during the event.

To find out more information about Freedom 4/24, how to sign up and how to earn CSER with the organization, visit www.freedom424.org.

Lechner is the social media and web manager for the Liberty Champion. Follow her on Twitter

Graphic by Hannah Gilmer