Run for the Cause: GC Students "Fill a Bus" for the International Crisis Aid 5K
Published: April 13, 2021
Greenville College students are running for a cause. In an effort to help combat sex trafficking, GC's World Outreach and Missions department is teaming up with the International Crisis Aid organization (ICA) on Saturday, September 19 for the ICA 5K Run/Walk for Freedom on the St. Louis University campus.
Director of World Outreach and Missions Erin O'Hara created a "Fill a Bus" campaign on campus to get GC students, staff and faculty involved with the event. "The campaign goal is to fill a bus, provided by Smith Grove Baptist Church, with people from our campus and the Greenville community and raise as much money as possible for the cause," says O'Hara. With the help of Greenville Student Outreach (GSO) and Coach Bob Johnson's Directing and Designing Projects class, the campaign is reaching students and drawing a crowd. The race entry fee is $25 for the public, but only $15 for GC students. GSO is partnering with O'Hara to offer the reduced fee by awarding $10 scholarships for each student participating. Students can register for the event through the World Outreach and Missions office to receive the scholarship and the Greenville community can register online.
After meeting last year with Derek Velazco, a GC alum who works with ICA, O'Hara fell in love with the organization and knew she wanted to help. The goal is to fill the bus, provided by Smith Grove Baptist Church, with students and people from the community and raise as much money as possible for this wonderful cause. ICA President Pat Bradley will be a keynote speaker for this year's Global Impact Week, and O'Hara hopes the GC community can continue to help with their work in St. Louis.
Since 2006, ICA has been fighting sex trafficking and rescuing girls from places some would not dare to go. In 2007, ICA was able to open the doors of its first home for young girls rescued from the red light areas of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. There are currently five homes in Ethiopia housing 29 rescued girls who receive food, shelter, emotional and spiritual counseling, schooling, vocational training, medical care, and a spending allowance. Within the next six years, ICA hopes to rehabilitate and rescue 4,000 girls world-wide from this rampant evil.
Individuals and Teams interested in the 5K can register online at www.crisisaid.org. Registration is $25 per person. Check-in begins at 7:00 am and the run/walk begins at 8:00 am. Free 5-10 minute massages will be available for all participants. Greenville College invites participants from the community to join "Fill a Bus" on Saturday, September 19 and ride to and from the race with the GC crew. Please contact Erin O'Hara at 664.7129 for more information.
