Team ZOE Races Across America to Combat Child Trafficking

The Race Across America Mission

• 🚴 Team ZOE International is participating in the Race Across America (RAAM), a non-stop transcontinental relay race, to raise awareness and funds for the fight against child trafficking.
• 🎯 The race spans 3,000 miles across 12 states, challenging cyclists to push their physical and mental limits for a critical cause.
• 🤝 The team's mission is to rescue victims, restore their lives, and raise awareness about the prevalence of human trafficking in the US and globally.

Understanding Human Trafficking

• ⚠️ Human trafficking is not just a problem in developing nations; it is a significant issue within the United States as well.
• 🧠 Traffickers often use psychological manipulation and trauma to break down victims, rather than solely relying on physical restraint.
• 💔 The team members often write the names of victims on their bodies as a constant reminder of their 'why' and the lives they are fighting to save.

Team ZOE International's Impact

• 🗓️ Founded in 2002, Zoe International operates in five countries, focusing on prevention, rescue, and long-term healing for trafficked children.
• 💰 The cycling initiative, which began in 2018, has raised significant funds, including half a million dollars in 2023 alone.
• 🙏 The team, comprised of professionals, missionaries, and businessmen, views the challenge through a lens of faith, seeing spiritual opposition and drawing strength from their mission.

The Purpose Beyond the Race

• 🏆 The team prioritizes transformation over trophies, enduring sleepless nights and physical exhaustion for the sake of vulnerable children.
• ✨ The riders are motivated by the belief that there is a savior who desires to rescue and love those trapped in human trafficking, regardless of their circumstances.