2023 Ride For Hope

Hey everyone!

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to do photo coverage for an amazing event called Ride For Hope, co-organized by Christ Community Church and an organization called Naomi’s House in Illinois. The annual Ride For Hope was started in 2021 by Mark Kurland after his daughter started working with Naomi's House. After hearing what the people she worked with were going through, he wanted to do more to help the organization, as he explained in an interview with CBS Chicago.

This year, there were 108 people signed up to ride and over 25 volunteers! There were approximately 80 people that were riding on June 3 and the rest would ride on their own at some point before the fundraiser closes. There were riders in their pre-teens all the way up to 60s or older; people who were avid cyclists who go out in all weather every weekend and people who hadn't touched a bike in months.

The ride started in St. Charles, Illinois at Christ Community Church and traveled 50 miles north to the North Branch Conservation Area at the Illinois-Wisconsin state line, with multiple rest/turn-around points at 6, 11, 25, and 35 miles, so people could choose to do shorter distances. There were over 15 people signed up to ride the full 100 miles (50 miles and back)!

Back at the church after the ride, we had a representative from Naomi's House speak to the cyclists and volunteers about what sex trafficking is, what Naomi's House does, where the money raised would go, and how we can get involved in the fight.

During the ride, I got to talk to a few of the volunteers stationed at the rest points as well as pedestrians walking along the trail and there were two sentiments I heard most frequently: 1) "I didn't realize trafficking was such a big deal here," and/or 2) "I want to do more but I don't know how to help."

In response to point #1, I told them and remind anyone reading this that trafficking has been reported in every zip code in the US. Trafficking is everywhere, even if it isn't obvious. In response to point #2, I remind everyone that there is no "right way" to get involved. If you're good with kids, maybe you can be a mentor to help give a child a sense of belonging and love from a healthy source so they're at lower risk of clinging to the attention of a trafficker. If you're an extrovert, maybe you'd be well-fitted in an outreach program with an organization. If you're like me and you're a Creative, maybe you would be really effective at helping to promote events and organizations through photos or other artwork. If you're none of those things, but you're really passionate about cycling or walking, you can join us on next year's Ride for Hope or find a Walk For Freedom through A21 near you (see my post from a 2022 Walk for Freedom here), or even start an event of your own! There is no "right way" to get involved, but there is a wrong way, and that's by doing nothing.

As of writing this on June 8, 2023, the fundraiser has raised $79,015. This money goes towards funding rehabilitation for sex trafficking survivor-warriors through therapy, job skills training, and housing, as well as awareness and prevention efforts. The fundraiser will stay open to donations through June 30, 2023.

**UPDATE** 

Upon closing, the total amount raised was an incredible $95,453! I am so thankful for everyone who donated and participated in this year's Ride For Hope!

Thank you so much for reading and following along in this fight. Together, we can bring an end to human trafficking.