(Credit: Mark Gibson)
During 27.6 mile run up and down the Philadelphia Art Museum steps May 1, Gibson will raise awareness for Worthwhile
Worthwhile, a Philadelphia-based, national organization dedicated to raising awareness about and supporting survivors of human trafficking, has announced that ultra runner Mark Gibson will be kicking off the organization’s annual national awareness campaign - the Act Challenge - on Thursday, May 1 at 10 a.m., by running up and down the Philadelphia Art Museum Steps for a total of 27.6 miles.
Gibson anticipates ascending and descending the art museum steps over 130 times. Other runners, athletes and groups are invited to join Mark for portions of his run. He will be joined by Dan Emr, founder and executive director of Worthwhile, for half of his run; the equivalent of a half marathon. Gibson’s special run kicks off the first day of Worthwhile’s Act Challenge, which invites participants nationwide to learn and share with others about the issue of human trafficking.
Gibson is an adventurer, coach, and keynote speaker who has completed extreme challenges, including biking the 2,700-mile Tour Divide and running 100-mile ultra-marathons. He created the CAT ZONE Performance mindset, emphasizing embracing life with Curiosity, Audacity, and Tenacity. With over 30 years of experience, Gibson shares his lessons through engaging talks, drawing from his background as a coach, author, storyteller, and member of the British National gymnastics team. Gibson is choosing to run 27.6 miles to represent the 27.6 million individuals enslaved in labor trafficking across the world.
From May 1 through July 30 (“World Day Against Trafficking in Persons),” everyone, everywhere is invited to log miles, raise awareness, and unlock donations from sponsors to raise funds to help provide safe housing and restorative programming for survivors of human trafficking in America. The Act Challenge is free to join and open to all ages and abilities. Learn more at https://www.worthwhile.org/actchallenge.
In 2024 Act Challenge, participants from 36 states and 6 countries logged over 241,000 miles and the issue of human trafficking was shared with 2.4 million people. Worthwhile is hoping to crush last year’s numbers so that they can share this important issue with even more people.
Over 40 million people are trafficked worldwide, leaving many survivors with inadequate resources for dealing with trauma, abuse, and addiction. Despite these odds, there is hope and a way for everyone to be a part of the solution. Worthwhile is proud that 100% of donations received go directly to programs providing housing and restorative services to survivors of human trafficking.
About Worthwhile:
Worthwhile is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to reaching lives affected by human trafficking and restoring these survivors with a sense of belonging and worth. The road to healing requires a comprehensive response. It's not enough to offer a single solution, which is why Worthwhile first engages survivors where they are, in our communities, then offers long-term stability with safe housing, and finally provides them with opportunities for financial independence by employment through its thrift stores. This wraparound approach is how Worthwhile offers the most comprehensive services to survivors of trafficking in the state of Pennsylvania. To learn more visit https://www.worthwhile.org
