ST. LOUIS – An ultra-runner made his way from St. Louis into Illinois Thursday morning.
Andrew Linder is on a 78-day journey across America to raise awareness of human trafficking. The Washington, D.C., law enforcement officer said he’s combining his passions for running and being an advocate for human trafficking victims.
Linder began the journey at the Santa Monica Pier in California on March 1 and travels about 40 miles a day.
He plans to be the first person to run across America wearing a 15-pound weighted vest. The avid runner said the weighted vest serves as a symbol of what human trafficking victims go through.
“It’s also for the victims and survivors. If I could walk around with a 1000-pound weighted vest, it wouldn’t even resemble what they have to go through every day,” Linder said. “I want people to understand that after these people are out of these horrific crimes and going through these horrible times, they still live with this every single day.”
Linder sent in a photo from our iconic Gateway Arch Wednesday afternoon as he wrapped up his journey through Missouri.
He is now headed through Illinois for the rest of the day. The run will end at Central Park in New York City. He says it’s been a challenge with ups and downs, but he just takes it one step at a time.
To learn more about his journey, click here for his campaign raising money for Sisters Rising Worldwide, a non-profit protecting those vulnerable to trafficking.
