TEAR Fund wants businesses to ‘brake the traffick’

TEAR Fund is encouraging New Zealand businesses to use their bikes to stop children being trafficked into prostitution. A child is trafficked around the world every 30 seconds and 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 opportunity to participate in this year’s worthwhile challenge. 

Nigel Jones, general manager of Fonterra New Zealand, recommends the Poverty Cycle for corporates and small and medium-sized businesses 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 ten-time winner of Ironman New Zealand, Cameron Brown. 

Money raised in this year’s Poverty Cycle is going towards the prevention of women and children being trafficked in Southeast Asia and Nepal and their reintegration into society.  A portion of the funds will also go towards a mentoring programme for vulnerable youths 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