Tearfund | Former Bachelor NZ, Art Green, To Row 40kms Non-Stop For People Trapped In Human Trafficking

In lockdown, some of our freedom was taken away from us, but we got it back. Let’s help victims of trafficking to reclaim their freedom.

This month, Tearfund is running an event called the Poverty Cycle to help people trapped in human trafficking reclaim their freedom. Participants are encouraged to run, walk or ride the length of a trafficking route in the first two weeks of June.

Art Green, most known for his role on the reality TV series, The Bachelor NZ, is taking part in the Poverty Cycle. He had no idea how bad human trafficking was and when he learnt more about it, he couldn’t turn a blind eye. He will row 40kms non-stop on his rowing machine with his friend Drew Harrisberg who will also row 40kms, which is the distance of one of the major trafficking routes from Thailand to Laos.

I was drawn to take part in Tearfund’s Poverty Cycle after learning how bad the forced labour exploitation situation is around the world. Previously I had no idea people were caught up in such a horrible life. I honestly find it so disappointing and disgusting that humans are still treated this way,” says Art.

View this post on Instagram

Hear about what @art_green and @drews.daily.dose are doing for Poverty Cycle which starts on Monday! #Moveforfreedom #povertycycle #humantraffickingawareness

A post shared by Tearfund NZ (@tearfundnz) on May 27, 2020 at 8:26pm PDT

My goal is to help spread the word about what is going on and raise some money for Tearfund.

Art recruited his Australian friend, Drew Harrisberg, a physiologist, sports scientist, diabetes educator and someone with a presence on Instagram who can also help bring awareness.

"A few hours of pain on the rowing machine is nothing compared to a lifetime of struggle that many people face around the world,” says Drew.

View this post on Instagram

BIG NEWS📢| I’m doing a marathon...ON THE ROWING MACHINE!😳Why? Firstly, I was made aware of an issue that I previously knew little about: Modern-day slavery and human trafficking. I consider myself a conscious, compassionate person, therefore it would be ignorant of me to turn down this opportunity to shine a spotlight on an important issue that many people are unaware of. - In 2 weeks, @art_green and I will be rowing from Laos to Thailand (virtually) - a common human trafficking route as part of @tearfundnz Poverty Cycle Challenge. There are many different routes of varying distances which can be completed in teams (cycling, walking, running etc). We chose to do route 5 on the rowing machine because...we’re madmen! The official total distance is 79kms. We’ll be sharing the load equally but instead of doing 39.5kms each, we’ve decided to round up to full marathon distance because we can’t think of a reason why not! That’s 42,195m each. With very little rowing experience or training, this is going to be a MASSIVE challenge. - Secondly, I learnt a valuable lesson after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 10 years ago - adversity equals opportunity for growth. Diabetes made me so much stronger, happier and healthier, so I see this self-inflicted challenge as another opportunity to grow. - Finally, I find it very difficult to turn down a challenge. So when @art_green offered me a spot alongside him on the boat, I knew I couldn’t turn it down. The thought of sharing a boat with my good mate as we enter the pain room together makes me abnormally excited. It’s nice to put the Kiwi vs Aussie rivalry aside as we come together to make a positive impact. A few hours of pain on the rowing machine is nothing compared to the lifetime of struggle that many people face across the world. - This will be a true test of mental and physical capacity. But the reason I know we can do this is because I KNOW we don’t have any quit in us. That gives me all the confidence I need. Lesssssgo!!!!! - Please help us raise funds. Every dollar counts OR start a team of your own, pick a route and smash it!!!! LINK IN BIO TO DONATE 🙏🏼

A post shared by DREW HARRISBERG (@drews.daily.dose) on May 27, 2020 at 4:40am PDT

Human trafficking is an issue many New Zealanders are aware of but most don’t know much about it. We are so removed from the realities of the complete darkness many people feel when they’ve been lured by the promise of a good job but end up trafficked into sexual exploitation.

Around 25 million people are enslaved in forced labour exploitation right now. Of this, 4.8 million—almost the population of New Zealand—are victims of forced commercial sexual exploitation. US $230 billion is the estimated annual profit generated through human trafficking and slavery. Of that, commercial sexual exploitation generates US $150 billion.

Sometimes we can be victims of waiting for others to do something. But we have to end the waiting—the time to do something is now.

Tearfund’s partners help to prevent human trafficking, bring justice to some of the oppressed and hope to the hopeless. They help to remove people from harm and help them to heal.

Our partners cannot operate on their own, they need your donations. As Kiwis, let’s bring awareness of this evil and help educate and influence our peers to do something about it as well.

So after catching a glimpse of the horrible world that is human trafficking, will you do something about it like Art and Drew did?

All you have to do is sign up at povertycycle.org.nz. run, walk or ride the length of a trafficking route and get people to sponsor you.

Sign Up Now and help bring freedom to others trapped in modern slavery.

Recent posts

Raphael's fight against Child Labour

Wednesday, 08 June 2022 — Compassion International

Child Labour is a real issue in Togo, West Africa, and one in four children have been a child labourer in the community of Kpoguede. Compassion centre director, Raphael’s heart beats for children; he devotes his life to standing against child labour in his community. Read more to find out his powerful story.