Ride For Freedom tour going from Cardiff to Holyhead to raise awareness of intersection between climate change and modern slavery
From Monday 13 May to Friday 17 May, Ride for Freedom Founder Gordon Miller will cycle the 254 miles of the Lon Las Cymru route to raise awareness of the links between climate change and modern slavery, with Welsh Sports Association (WSA) member Welsh Cycling – and its community’s – support.
While the environmental impacts of climate change are widely recognised, its adverse effects on individuals are less acknowledged. Climate change exacerbates conditions conducive to human trafficking and labour exploitation, both forms of modern slavery, affecting nearly 50 million people globally, including in the U.K.
“Shockingly,” highlights Miller, “1 in 4 modern slavery victims globally are children, totalling 12 million individuals under 18 years old. This mirrors the combined number of children living in Wales and England.”
Miller’s journey across Wales aims to shine a light on this increasingly pertinent issue.
The ride’s overarching goal is to establish a lasting schools programme in Wales, fuelled by the fundraising and sponsorship opportunities presented by this tour.
The programme would centre on educating future generations about modern slavery through the lens of cycling. This programme will provide students with a first-hand experience of the freedom cycling offers, akin to survivors of modern slavery attending the non-profit’s remedial Freewheel programme.
Gordon will visit Radnor Primary School in Cardiff to educate the young minds about the link between climate change and modern slavery and ignite their passion for advocacy.
This initiative mirrors Ride For Freedom’s successful outreach in East London, where over 3,000 primary school children were reached, resulting in more than 40 anti-slavery ambassadors advocating within their communities.
With the ride starting in Cardiff and concluding in Holyhead, Miller will be joined by a legend of Welsh Cycling, Ffion James, on the first day.
Members of Welsh Cycling’s outreach programmes, including Breeze – which focuses on female inclusivity in cycling – will also meet up to cycle with Miller en route.
Welsh Cycling members are invited to join the ride, and if anybody else would like to join Gordon on any of the five days he’ll be on the route, get in touch with [email protected].
Visit the Welsh Cycling website here to learn more about the tour and the issue.
Learn more about Ride For Freedom and how you can support the organisation’s work and mission here.
