From F3 Raleigh Pax and 3rd F Q Bean Counter:
In 2020, F3 St. Louis hosted a weeklong virtual mileage challenge whose purpose is to shed light on human trafficking. For the 5th annual event in 2024, F3 St. Louis invited Pax of all F3 Nation to host a similar event in bringing attention to the blight of our sex trafficking in our own community. Although the Triangle is a prosperous, thriving region, it is no stranger to sex trafficking and has been the focus of attention from both the government and local non-profits. The efforts of Ship Community Outreach were especially significant and caught my attention. My radar was alerted to them by Bubbles inviting Pax a few years ago in COT to help in a restoration project to clean an old abandoned hotel and convert it into a living space for women survivors of prostitution and sex trafficking. When this 3rd F opportunity came up, Ship immediately came to mind as the beneficiary for our virtual challenge, and we were off and running with our mileage challenge.
Our first activities before officially logging miles began with a tour and kick-off event at Ship’s headquarters in south Raleigh. In an informative evening, the Pax learned firsthand from Pastor Chris Jones, Founder, and Anissa McNair, Community Advocate of Anti-Trafficking Initiative, on how sex trafficking and drugs were plaguing our community and neighbors. The conversation was sobering as we absorbed how susceptible young women are lured into trafficking through drug reliance and emotional manipulation. Day after day Chris and Anissa would see women on the street line up down the street to be engaged in prostitution. The Pax saw firsthand how entrenched Ship is in battling sex trafficking and even saw their other services and amenities: gym and weightlifting for gang-involved youth, new-clothes retail space for both men and women, groceries and basic hygiene items, and the “Bread of Life” bread distribution and inventory, transporting thousands of loaves to area food pantries and partner churches. F3 Raleigh was inspired to see Ship fight societal and economic ills such as food insecurity, poverty, housing, and trafficking.
Interested in helping or learning more? Next steps would be to complete registration for our week-long virtual mileage challenge October 6th through the 12th as we attempt to log 24,901 miles together. That’s enough miles to circle the globe. Run, walk, bike, ruck, row, swim wherever you are (just no motorized movement – even electric scooters!) Our ask is not to run a marathon or anything but just log the miles and steps you’re already doing as part of F3 in daily posting. Let’s not just count the miles but make them count for something!
>> Sign up to log your miles ($30 registration fee; 94% of registration fees go directly to Ship). Special pricing ($20) available for children under 17 and folks above 65. Teachers, veterans, first responders, and religious leaders may sign up for free! DM for the codes.
>> Register a team or run solo and invite others to join you. **Note this event is open to the whole community of Pax, 2.0s, Ms, and friends.
>> Make a donation. Donations go directly to Ship.
>> Become a fundraiser. Invite others into conversation about the issue of human trafficking.
>> Sponsor the event. Receive thousands of website hits for your organization or business.
Links: EVENT PAGE | SIGNUP PAGE |HOW TO LOG MILES
