This article covers the local events which advocate for sex trafficking awareness. It was written in a news style and made to be informative. (NOTE: Organizations are real but dates were made up for the purpose of this assignment. More info about O.U.R. can be found via the link below.)
On June 16, 2020, the professional organization Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) will hold a Run to Break the Chain at Smith Park in Rexburg, Idaho, to raise public awareness for child sex trafficking.
On June 16, 2020, the professional organization Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) will hold a Run to Break the Chain at Smith Park in Rexburg, Idaho, to raise public awareness for child sex trafficking.
The Run to Break the Chain Race draws together community members to raise awareness and funds to support O.U.R. anti-trafficking efforts. According to the statistics found on their official help site, OURrescue.org, O.U.R. has apprehended 1,700 traffickers and liberated 3,100 victims of sex trafficking around the world since its start in 2013. Success stories and testimonials about the program can be found at OURrescue.org/stories.
By joining this race, the lives of innocent children are being saved. According to the Run to Break the Chain Race Director, Heidi Fransen, and other race info sources, all funds collected from the Run to Break the Chain race will be directly applied towards efforts related to O.U.R. mission, “to save children and seek justice for those who victimize them.”
Race options include a half marathon at $45 per runner, a 10k at $35 per runner, and a 5k at $20 per runner. Racers can take advantage of water stations positioned throughout the running course and a fuel station after the race, offering Gatorade, water, milk, oranges, bananas, and Farmers Bakery bread at no extra cost. There will be a live DJ, music, food, and free massages for participants (courtesy of Rexburg College of Massage Therapy). Each racer will also receive a t-shirt and a swagbag for their participation in the race. Awards will be given to the first three male and female finishers of each race.
Current race information can be found through the Operation Underground Railroad Facebook page called “Run to Break the Chain Rexburg.”
O.U.R. encourages all community members to participate in individual capacities to fight for the cause of awareness by running the race, volunteering, or donating. As stated in the “About Us” section on O.U.R.’s official website, Operation Underground Railroad founders urge that it is our duty as a free people, “… to rise up and help.”
Assistant Race Director, BYU-I Sophomore, and race volunteer CaRynn Harris recalls her time as a part of the O.U.R. volunteer community in an interview by saying, “…It is a very enlightening experience.”
Operation Underground Railroad has been creating volunteer experiences for many community members over the years. Many volunteers are BYU-Idaho students with a drive to be involved or to join in a volunteer effort for a meaningful cause. To sign up as a volunteer, go to Ourrescue.org, click the “Join the Fight” tab, select “Volunteer”, and fill out the volunteer form.
Race registration can be completed at Itsyourrace.com, at the Rexburg Vivint building at 2573 S. Frontage Rd, Rexburg, ID 83440, during packet pick-up on June 15th from 4-7p.m., or the morning of the race at Smith Park from 6:30-7:30a.m.
Recycling the name of the original Underground Railroad used for the liberation of African slaves, O.U.R.’s team of former CIA, past and current law enforcement members, and highly skilled operatives continues to liberate child sex slaves by working with local law enforcement, locating traffickers, rescuing victims of sex slavery, and helping them reintegrate into their families when possible. As illustrated on their website, O.U.R. connects with rehabilitation programs to assist with the mental and physical trauma of survivors.
Heidi Fransen describes in an interview that Operation Underground Railroad and Break the Chain partnered up after she became aware of the sex trafficking issue through a talk show episode with Glenn Beck starring Tim Ballard, the head of Operation Underground Railroad. Child sex trafficking awareness has inspired Heidi to join the anti-trafficking fight by continuing to organize Runs to Break the Chain. Heidi Hansen personally attests that Tim Ballard is, “A genuinely good person…doing this for the right reasons.”
Through dangerous deployment operations and strict tactical training, Tim has become informed, qualified, and inspired to break the child sex trafficking chain. His motivation for starting Operation Underground Railroad stems from the notion that, “[If his team doesn’t] find these kids, no one is going to. It’s our job. We have to do something.”
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