Tear Fund Wants Kiwis to ‘Brake the Traffick’

Tear Fund Wants Kiwis to ‘Brake the Traffick’

TEAR Fund is encouraging Kiwi cyclists to use their bikes to stop children from being trafficked into brothels. Every 30 seconds, a child is trafficked around the world. The average age of a victim is only 12 years old. By cycling in the TEAR Fund Poverty Cycle challenge, New Zealanders can help combat this trade in lives.

The Poverty Cycle is a road relay race that pits teams of six against each other to complete six laps of a 20km circuit. Individuals can also enter the challenge and ride two, three or four laps.

Last year’s Poverty Cycle saw key businesses, groups and clubs, cycling together to raise $85,000 which was used to help fight trafficking in Southeast Asia and Nepal. This enabled TEAR Fund’s partners to: rescue 65 victims from trafficking, charge 15 offenders, expand into 36 new communities, and educate 768 school children about the dangers of human trafficking.

TEAR Fund now wants to extend the same opportunity to local businesses, individuals, schools, and clubs to participate in this worthwhile challenge in 2015.

Nigel Jones, general manager of Fonterra New Zealand, recommends the Poverty Cycle for corporates as a way to boost team morale and encourage teamwork. “The Poverty Cycle Challenge was a great, fun way for members of our staff to work together in a co-operative spirit, both in the team relay, and to fundraise and do what’s right for the most vulnerable in our world: our children.”

As well as corporates, the challenge also attracts prominent athletes such as 10-time winner of Ironman New Zealand, Cameron Brown. Brown says, “Poverty Cycle is a fun and friendly event with the added challenge of giving it your best for your team.”

Money raised in the Poverty Cycle this year, is going towards preventing women and children from being trafficked in Southeast Asia and Nepal and helping them integrate into leading normal lives. A portion of the funds will also go towards a mentoring programme for vulnerable youth here in New Zealand.

The event will be held at 7am on August 29th at the Ti Papa Events Centre in Clevedon, Auckland.

For more information or to register for the challenge, go to www.povertycycle.org.nz

ENDS

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