Some of my favorite girls and I recently ran the Kansas City Marathon on a relay team. We each ran a leg of the total 26.2 miles.
We were running on behalf of my church, The Rock of KC for an organization called For the Silent. For the Silent wars against human trafficking: the illegal sale of men, women and children for exploitation. It is modern day slavery. It is heinous. It is happening.
Did you see the movie “Taken”?
While that movie was not real, the statistics are very much so.
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Number of kids sold into sex slavery every minute in this world? 2
Number of miles in the Kansas City Marathon: 26.2
Number of girls on my running relay team: 5
(we crossed the finish line as a team)Number of people who I saw hurl in front of me while we were running the race: 1. Ew and ick. That’s just wrong.
Number of hours I had to wait with total strangers on a cold street corner before I got to run? 2.5 (torture)
(me in line again for the bathroom!)Number of times I used the porta-potty as I waited my turn to run: 4 (overactive bowel syndrome???? haha)
Number of miles I ran: 6.7 miles: the perfect distance. Not too far. Not too short.
Number of minutes I ran 6.7 miles in: 65 minutes. My goal was to run in under 70 minutes, so I was thrilled.
Number of crimes more profitable than sex trafficking: only 1. Drug trafficking.
(the running group from my church the night before the race)Number of people in my church who Ran For the Silent: Over 100
Number of steps I walked in the race: 0
Number of rhinestones I glued to my shirt? Uh….I dont feel like counting them! But it was stinkin’ cute!
Number of hours before a run-a-way is often approached by a human trafficker: 48 hours.
Number of rhinestones Shauna would have glued to her shirt if we wouldn’t have stopped her: 6,517. Or more. This girl likes her bling. And clearly she likes to run. She ran an extra 4 mile leg after her leg “just for fun”.
Number of dollars our church raised for For the Silent: over $10,000.
Number of times I must have combed my hair before I bedazzled my shirt: clearly zero.
Number of hours it took us to drive the course the week of the race: 2.5 hours. Half of our husbands didn’t even believe us! How does it take 2.5 hours to drive 26 miles??? IDK.
Number of miles I have ran so far this year: 305
Number of pounds I would gain if I didn’t run that much: oooooh ….let’s not go there.
Number of glues we had to try before we discovered which one kept rhinestones on: none. My friend Becky (the leader of of our team) knew all of the glue tricks! And by the way turns out to be one heck of a runner! Thank you so much Becky for putting this team together! I’m looking forward to more races with you in the future!
Number of years old the average sex slave is: 13 years old.
(at the pasta dinner the night before)Number of races my husband has come to to watch me run in: Every one of them. Thanks baby!
Number of men I saw running the marathon in a superhero costume and bikini underwear: 1 (but I will spare you the picture)
Number of headbands our team purchased before we finally selected the ones we each wore: 10
Number of children who have been forced into sex trafficking in this world: 1.2 million
Number of degrees it was on race day morning: 43 very.chilly.degrees.
Number of sex slaves who are AMERICAN children: 300,000!
Number of miles this girl has ever ran before this year? None, but she’s now ran in 3 races this year….Laura I am sooooo proud of you! You are truly FABULOUS AT 40!
Number of children sold, manipulated or stolen into sex slavery EVERY MINUTE: 2
Number of safe houses in the US right now for women and children brought out of sex trafficking? 5…only 5! For the Silent is building a new safe house right now in Texas.
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If you or someone you know is interested in supporting this worthy organization or please go here. They could use your prayers and financial support.
16 comments
Good for you for running and joining such a worthwhile cause. I recently did a half through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (I had done a full through them back in 07), and it’s amazing what a simple thing like running and telling people stats and what you’re running for…and being passionate about it…can truly make a difference. Keep up the great work! I loved this post!
Wonderful post. Our church family is involved with For the Silent and it’s truly wonderful work. Praising God for your heart (and theirs) today! Plus I’m totally impressed you ran 6.7 miles!! -shaunna 🙂
Wow. I knew the problem was “out there” but I never realized it was that bad. What kind of sick mind does that to children??? Thank you so much for helping raise the awareness!
I was wondering when you were going to blog about the run. HA! Have you had time to breath since the run? You continue to amaze me in your blogging skills. Great job getting the stats our about how For the Silent helps people get out of a life style they did not ask for.
Love ya girl and look forward to many more runs together!!
What a wonderful post! I loved the humor and the devastating truth all mixed in one. This is a problem that I didnt even really know about. Thanks for opening my eyes!
love your guts
mandi
Good for you! Great cause too!
Is it possible to laugh, gape, snort, swell with pride, stop breathing, groan, and cry inside reading this same post? Running a marathon as a relay team is genius! Each one of you is more beautiful than the next. I am so proud of you. You have touched my heart. I will act on this. Ann
Congratulations, you and your team mates are awesome for not only running the race, but for doing great things for the cause. Thanks for bringing these statistics to light and informing us on “For The Silent. “
your are such an amazing writer. I was giggling, yet I loved how you added the statistic at the same time to bring light to such a horrible crime. I had so much fun running and being part of such an amazing bunch of women. I loved every minute of it. I wonder how many minutes we would have dropped off our time if we were not weighed down with bling… but we looked good:) love you girl.
Thank you for a very thoughtful post! It’s great to read about DIYers that are also runners! Such a busy life you must lead!
A.MAZ.ING.
This is so inspiring, and thank you for helping make a difference for the innocent. Way to go!
I loved this post! Amazing, heartstopping statistics. I would love to know what glue and tools y’all used, if you wouldn’t mind sharing!
I love that Shauna had on her blinged out sunglasses with the blinged shirt….you know that girl would bling her undies if she could (maybe she does…we don’t see them).
The statistics are staggering…I had no idea that it was such a huge thing here in the US. Thanks for opening my eyes.
This is such a great post! Funny, Serious, loving, powerful and so much more! I love this entire thing!
P.S. I read every last word 🙂 I didn’t just “read” the pictures!
Miss you and your family badly already…tears are coming…
Great post… entertaining and informative. It was nice of you and your friends to run for such a worthy cause. Some of those stats are shocking. I had no idea of the scope of human traffiking.
What an awesome accomplishment Jen, I applaud you and your friends for keeping up the drive and determination – and all for a wonderful cause. Yay!