1,500 participants expected at Saturday’s sold out “Free Them” 5k to fight human trafficking

The start of the 2013 run

A sold out race of 1,500 enthusiastic runners and walkers will lace-up at World Concern’s headquarters in Shoreline, this Saturday, May 10, to help raise awareness and funds to prevent human trafficking.

This is World Concern’s 6th annual “Free Them” 5k event. Last year’s race drew more than 2,000 people, and raised $150,000 to support World Concern’s anti-trafficking programs. This year’s event is expected to raise even more for this important cause. 

Human trafficking is estimated to be the third largest criminal activity in the world, and more than 80% of trafficking victims are women and young girls. World Concern works to protect those vulnerable to modern-day slavery, sexual exploitation, and abuse in some of the poorest places in Southeast Asia and around the world. 

2013 U.S. Paratriathlete of the Year Aaron Scheidies will be the official race starter. The visually impaired runner, an eight-time triathlon World Champion and eight-time National Champion, will also participate in the 5k with a guide.

For more information about the Free Them 5k, visit World Concern. The race is sold out, but participants can still register online for the “Virtual 5k,” which means they can run or walk for the cause at any time or place that works for them.

World Concern is a Christian global relief and development organization. With our supporters, our faith compels us to extend life-saving help and opportunity to people facing the most profound human challenges of extreme poverty. Our areas of expertise include disaster response, clean water, education, food security, child protection, microfinance and health. 

World Concern is a member of the CRISTA family of ministries, which serve people around the world in the areas of education, global relief and development, youth camps, senior care and media.