My first half marathon!

Hey Everyone!

As some of you may know I’m starting training for my first half marathon! This February I will be taking part in the Disney Princess half marathon in Orlando. I’m running as part of Team Freedom, a state wide team started by one of our radio stations here in Florida. They are running and raising money on behalf of Abolition International (http://abolitioninternational.org/) which is an organization fighting to end domestic and international human trafficking. Once I heard about Team Freedom in the car and I heard why they were running and who they were running for I knew I had to join in the fight.

The average age of girls sold into prostitution in the world is 12. The number of sex slaves now is higher than it has ever been in history, and no country is immune. About 1,000,000 individuals are trafficked across international borders yearly, 80% are women and children and 50% are minors. An estimated 200,000 American children alone have been forced into the commercial sex trade in the United States. Human trafficking is arguably one of the worst evils in existence which is why I am running for the freedom of those enslaved.

I am trying to raise $600 with a deadline of January 10^th. What I’m asking is for each person to donate $10. I have to send one check on that day to Abolition International so donations can be sent to me by that date, cash or check. If you send a check please write Abolition International in the memo line. You can send them to this address:

4634 SW 45^th Ln.

Gainesville, FL 32608           

(They are a 501(c) 3. All donations are tax deductable.)

If you can’t support financially I would greatly appreciate support in prayer, specifically that my knees will hold up and that my asthma (which oddly after almost 5 years of consistent running and no problems is giving me grief all of the sudden) will subside. I’ll post updates on my blog as I go so keep a look out on that.

I can’t go out and rescue each child who is suffering, as much as I wish I could, and I can’t give bags of money to make it stop either but I can run and with your help we can make a difference.

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up for the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9

-       Princess Joanna Thomas