[FRND] Student Athletes Help Raise Awareness
On Saturday, September 07, 2013 student athletes from the Friends University Men & Women Basketball teams, Baseball team and Volleyball junior varsity program participated in the Race for Freedom, a 5K running event sponsored by ICTSOS in a fundraising endeavor to help combat and stop Human Trafficking in Wichita, KS.
Patrick Sehl, Director of Friends University Campus Ministries approached the Falcon Athletic programs to gage their interest in participating. Though several Friends University sports are "in season" right now these programs felt it would be a great way to give back to the community in a worthy cause.
Martin Ayin, head coach of Friends University Volleyball commented: "Event though I knew our varsity team would be away that weekend I still felt strongly about our program taking a moment to stop and show support in the community. So after speaking with Campus Ministries I knew our team had to be involved somehow. We had scheduled the day off for those on the team not competing that weekend and the women elected to participate in the run." Ayin went on to say: "I believe many times we get so wrapped up in our own day-to-day business we tend to forget what the needs are with our local community, especially here in Wichita. For us it's important to take a day away from practices and the volleyball life to go out and support a great cause. We feel it is a reflection of the direction that we want to head as a program but more importantly another opportunity to educate the young women in our program about the value of community support."
Freshman Morgan Holick, a presidential scholar on Volleyball team stated: "We get to be a part of a cause that is a voice for the voiceless and raise public awareness about human trafficking right here in Wichita."
Friends University Men & Women Basketball teams also participated in the event.
With their sport seasons quickly approaching any free time to reach out and help the community seemed like good timing and a good fit. All players from both squads are participating this year.
Head coach of Women's Basketball Rae Boothe commented: "Patrick informed new students about the human trafficking issue here in Wichita and he was hopeful many people would be willing to join his efforts in raising awareness. This 5k run gave us as a team a great opportunity to do just that. Women's basketball is thrilled to be a part of the 5k. We love to run as it is but what makes this special is that we are able to do it for a great and necessary cause within the Wichita community. I would like to thank Patrick Sehl for inviting us to be a part of the Race for Freedom. We are also very grateful to Friends University for sponsoring our team to participate in the Race for Freedom."
Kate Atherton, a junior on the women's basketball team commented: "We are eager to participate in the Race for Freedom as it allows us as a Women's Basketball program to grow as a family as we raise awareness for other families and victims affected by human trafficking. It's our honor to donate our time and effort to help promote the consciousness of the horrible experiences human trafficking presents, as it could be happening anywhere and anytime."
Men's basketball student athlete Anthony White, a senior from Kansas City, KS commented: "It was a great event for our team to become involved in last year, and we look forward to participating again this year. It's a great cause and it's also fun to get together with other athletic teams and many other Friends University participants."
Men's coach Dale Faber added to White's statement by saying: "This is an event that helps a charity that may not be in the forefront of the typical fundraising events. My understanding is human trafficking has made its way into many cities including Wichita when many of us thought this was a Big City issue."
Aaron Malone, a starting shortstop on the Friends University baseball team stated: "Our team needs to participate in these community-type activities. It's not only a great chance for us to come together for a great cause, but it's a chance for us to make a difference in other people's lives. We are very fortunate to have the chance to attend college and compete for Friends University."