VISTA, CA, November 2020—Soroptimist International of Vista and North County Inland invites the public to sign up now for their “30 Miles in 30 Days to Fight Human Trafficking” Virtual Walkathon. The Walkathon will begin January 1, 2021 and end on January 30. Participants can register online at soroptimistvista.org.
The Walkathon will benefit two local non-profits active in the fight against human trafficking: Alabaster Jar’s Grace House, a safe house for trafficking victims, and North County Lifeline’s Project LIFE, a human trafficking prevention and intervention program.
“We’re asking supporters locally and nationwide to pledge online to walk, run or bike a total of 30 miles in January, and to donate $1 per mile or whatever they can afford. They can also choose to just donate without walking” said Jackie Huyck, the Vista club’s Director of Public Awareness. Participants can pledge individually, join an existing team, or form their own team. “We usually hold a Human Trafficking Awareness Walk in January but COVID-19 has made this impossible, so we decided to try a Walkathon,” said Huyck. “People can get in shape, at their own time and place, while helping a worthy cause at the same time.”
In addition to the Walkathon, the club will be hosting a free Human Trafficking Awareness Zoom Webinar on January 30, 2021 at 1 pm, with guest speakers Monica Dean, anchor/reporter for NBC7 News San Diego and Jaimee Johnson, trafficking survivor. Dean will talk about STOLEN, a seven-episode documentary about the sex trafficking and exploitation of children in San Diego County. The documentary debuted in August, after a year-long investigation by Dean and NBC7’s Investigative Producer Tom Jones. It can be viewed online at https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/investigations/documentary-series-stolen/2378624/
January is Human Trafficking Awareness month and similar events are being held throughout the county.
—
Jackie Piro Huyck Proud member of: Soroptimist International of Vista and North County Inland www.soroptimistvista.org
