A passion for justice can make you do the craziest thingsRebecca Dunning - 8 Jul 2011

Team Abolition Races to End Slavery.

Last week Rebecca Dunning posted a  preview of some crazy stunts her husband and the rest of 'Team Abolition' were up to to at the weekend to promote awareness of human trafficking. Here's her report from the race itself. Hopefully the pictures and story will inspire others to step up and do something extraordinary for Justice!

I thought I knew what the three members of Team Abolition were heading into when they took on the Tough Mudder but as they stepped up to the starting line I knew they were in for a few surprises… and that I would be spending the next 3 hours on different means of transportation and forging around the mountainside to stay ahead of them!

The challenge which took place in Vail, Colorado is dubbed, “Iron Man meets Burning Man” by the founder, a Brit, named Will Dean. The first thought as you enter the teaming masses is that you have stumbled upon a sub culture that is one part brilliant business plan and one part fantastical community. Costumes are a plenty, including chicken suits, men in speedos and bow ties… well you get the picture. It’s not all fun and games though as the Tough Mudder has donated over 1.3 million to the Wounded Warrior Project and its British counterpart.

I was happy to see that despite the madness, Will Dean, had noticed our abolitionist jerseys and the 24-7prayer.com website on them before he met me for our interview and was planning to check it out.  After discussing the event and human trafficking, I raced towards the starting lines where they were about to, according to Dean, “test toughness, fitness, strength, stamina, and mental grit all in one place and all in one day.”

Every twenty minutes a group of 500 hundred competitors surged down the hill and began the grueling challenges, most which included rank mud and ice cold water. One such event required navigating through chest high water that was only 36 degrees and swimming under barrels.

I was able to locate Clint Dunning and Adam Manly & Jennifer Manly, members of Team Abolition, in the mountains at 8 obstacles including a mud crawl under 8 inch high barb wire and a full body plunge into ice water. I also caught up with them as they navigated a cargo net across a river before heading up a black diamond ski slope with nets.

At the end of the day, Team Abolition defied not only icy fire hoses but the 30% drop out statistic with all three of them finishing together by running through dangling live wires pulsing with 10,000 volts. I think being a spectator and hanging with the crowds was probably more fun than being in the race; however I’ve been coerced along with about 10 others to join in the next event. I’d better start training now.

The reason why Clint, Adam and Jennifer put themselves through thi skind of crazy ordeal is foremost to raise awarness about modern day slavery.

• It is estimated that there are approximately 27 million slaves around the world.
• 68% of female sex trafficking victims meet the clinical criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Around half of trafficking victims in the world are under the age of 18.
• More than 2/3 of sex trafficked children suffer additional abuse at the hands of their traffickers

Please take a few minutes to join with us and pray for the eradication of trafficking and enforced labour in the world today.

Just24-7 exists to champion and catalyse prayer fuelled justice projects and lifestyles. If you've got a story or would like to connect with Just24-7 drop Rebecca an email.