Tread on Trafficking is a fundraiser that runs until June 30th where treaders do something physical and ask friends and family to support them for working out — with all money raised going to Love146.
Over the next few months, activists will run, bike, swim and work out all in the hopes of starting a conversation with family and friends and getting the word out. It’s incredibly encouraging to see how people every summer use physical activity to fight against child trafficking and exploitation and we wanted to share some of them with you throughout the month of April.
Daniel Massaro isn’t a stranger to running, taking part in last year’s Pittsburgh Marathon. But he didn’t run the whole race, running only the last leg as part of a team that collectively ran the entire marathon.
“I still recall crossing the finish line after we only ran 5.5 [miles], and I remember these marathon runners walking up to me and high-fiving me, thinking I had actually run the full or the half marathon. From there, I told myself: ‘You know, I feel like a fraud — I’m running the full marathon next year.’”
But he said sheer will wasn’t going to get it done.
“I needed motivation, I needed a cause to get behind and I needed friends to train and run with.”
That’s when Daniel, with the help of his fiancé Andrea, decided to run the entirety of the 2013 Pittsburgh Marathon and make Love146 the benefitting organization. Together, Daniel and Andrea started spreading the word that they were training for a marathon and that giving to Love146 was a way to motivate them through those 26.2 miles.
“I heard about Love146 at my church several years ago. I saw the video, I heard the story and I was just hooked. I’ve been looking for a way to give back practically since then.”
After setting a training schedule, Daniel and Andrea started asking people to join them in training for the marathon and fundraising for Love146.
“What’s great is word of mouth is really carrying this. It’s been friends asking friends asking friends and everyone just coming together.”
There’s nearly 30 runners currently on the team, which David and Andrea named Running Against Traffic(k).
“This group of runners… they’re more than friends. We’re a community. We’ve become a family.”
Exercise can help end child trafficking and exploitation:
