Community Runs And Walks To End Child Trafficking

Friends, neighbors and community activists of all fitness levels ran and walked through the streets of Shoreline Saturday to raise awareness for child trafficking in developing countries.

Hosted by World Concern, an organization that sets up trafficking prevention programs in Southeast Asia, the Free Them 5k attracted approximately 1,200 participants from various church and community groups.

Derek Sciba, who works for World Concern, said he has seen, first hand, the effects of child trafficking and the lives it destroys.

“Behind this run are real people—children who are trafficked into slavery,” Sciba said. “I’ve talked to children whose moms have been working in brothels for years and years; children whose friends have disappeared after somebody comes into town with the lure of a better life. These are real people.”

Sciba likened the problem to slavery in America, saying that that if enough people care to take on the cause, it can be solved.

“This is much more complicated, in that it involves many more governments throughout the world, but we can make a real impact on this by preventing it from ever happening in the first place,” he said.

Sciba said strangers often come into poor villages making promises to young girls that they can find a better life by following them away from home, but they end up exploiting the girls and turning them into slaves.

Chris Coleman, who placed first in the race, said he showed up because he heard about the event through Alderwood Community Church and wanted to support the cause. He said he hasn’t raced since high school but was excited to get out and run.

“Some friends of my were coming, and it’s just for a great cause,” Coleman said. “It’s nice to get out and race again.”

To learn more about how to help prevent child trafficking, visit World Concern’s website.

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