Tour For Freedom

Friends,

I am writing you today to bring awareness to worldwide atrocity, to a crisis that has gone on for far too long. Unfortunately where there is poverty or famine, there are people who exploit, enslave, and abuse those who are looking to better themselves and their families.

I am specifically talking about the global sex slave trade. While it is an embarrassing topic to discuss, it needs to be addressed and the situation rectified. To bring awareness to this cause I have partnered with Freedom 4/24 a non-profit organization determined to shed light on this epidemic and to provide support to those who have been taken advantage of. At its core Freedom 4/24 sends individuals over to distant lands such as Thailand to go into the “bars” where western European and American men buy women for the night. Representatives of Freedom 4/24 go into the bars and pay the "bar tab" to give these women freedom for one night from their prostitution and abuse. They are taken to a safe house, pampered and shown the respect that every woman deserves. They are also given the opportunity to leave the industry, given basic care, and shown the love of Jesus Christ.

As the father of a daughter my heart breaks for these women who are sold by their own families into this lifestyle only to sell their bodies for money to send back home to help pay for basic necessities. You and I would never think of selling our bodies for life’s basic necessities however for the 300,000 women in Thailand this has become the norm. Many of these women are very young, some as young as 12-14 when they are exploited and forced into this way of life. This practice is happening in more places other than Thailand and I ask you to log on to www.freedom424.org to find out more.

To bring focus to this issue, I have banded together with 9 other guys to be a part of the first ever “Tour for Freedom”. This ride will take place on 6/30/12 and we will cycle the 75 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Waynesboro to Lynchburg, VA. We will draw our strength from Psalm 82:3-4 “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. (4) Rescue the weak and the needy: deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

I am asking you to partner with me to raise funds to help Freedom 4/24’s mission and to free the oppressed and triumph over the wicked. Feel free to pledge an amount per mile or to donate a flat sum of money. I promise your money will be used efficiently and effectively. I am asking that all donations be sent by June 1^st. Please make your check payable to Freedom 4/24; however please send it to my address so that I may attribute the funds to the “Tour for Freedom” ride.

Thank you,

Josh

1021 Clearview Avenue

Fredericksburg VA 22405