The Chic Guide: Tell us more about the Aruna Project!
Sarah Prud’homme, Events Director at the Aruna Project: Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Aruna Project is an international human rights nonprofit dedicated to freeing, employing, and empowering sexually enslaved women. By providing empowerment through employment, we create lifelong freedom for women by helping them find their voice, experience independence, and develop a marketable job skill alongside a sisterhood of others who have overcome. Through our products and Aruna Run Race Series, you can literally help create a path for freedom and give the liberating power of choice to women like Reshma, Fathima, Pooja and so many others, while also celebrating freedom in your own adventure.
The Chic Guide: Can you share more about your upcoming Aruna Run Race Series?
Prud’homme: The catalyst of the freedom process, Aruna Runs are hosted by volunteer race hosts in communities across the country to help raise money for the cause. Traditionally 5K road races, Aruna Runs are designed to provide a professional, powerful, and family-friendly race experience to runners and walkers of all ability levels. As such, the runs attract a diverse participant base, bringing participants from different races, ethnicities, religions, genders, and ages together over the shared value of human dignity. Since 2014, more than 14,000 people across 32 cities and 17 states have participated in an Aruna Run, raising over $500,000 for the cause. This money has given new futures to 250+ women, children and siblings.
The Chic Guide: What makes the Aruna Run Race Series unique?
Prud’homme: All of the proceeds from the Aruna Run Race Series help bring freedom. As race expenses are covered by the generosity of local sponsors, 100% of registration fees and additional donations go towards our mission.
Participants run or walk for an enslaved woman whom we personally know and are actively working to free from the brothels. Her name is on the race bibs, so participants literally run to help bring freedom to her and other women like her. Email updates on that woman’s journey to freedom are shared via e-mail throughout the year.
All giveaway items included in the registration fee are hand-made by Aruna Artisans, freed and employed thanks to funds raised in previous Aruna Runs.
The Chic Guide: Where are 2021 Aruna Run locations?
Prud’homme: Remaining 2021 Aruna Run locations are:
Virtual Run – July 25-31. The Aruna Summer Virtual Run is being held July 25-31 in observance of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (July 30). Participating in the run is a powerful and tangible way to join the fight to end human trafficking both here in the United States and around the globe. Participants will be running and walking to help bring and sustain freedom to Asma, an enslaved woman we are actively working to free from a brothel in India, and thousands of other women like her. The race swag—a packable race bag and exclusive Aruna headband—is made in freedom by Aruna Artisans, women freed, employed, and empowered thanks to funds raised in previous Aruna Runs. Learn more and register at https://bit.ly/ArunaVirtualRun.
Cincinnati, Ohio – September 6. Powered by Accenture, the Cincinnati Aruna Run attracts thousands to Smale Riverfront Park on Labor Day to run and walk for the freedom of enslaved women. Race offerings include 5-Mile, 5K, 1-Mile, and Elite 1-Mile. The name of the woman participants will run/walk for will be announced on August 10. The race swag includes an athletic drawstring backpack, universal gator, and sweat towel– all of which are made in freedom by Aruna Artisans. Learn more and register at https://bit.ly/2021CincinnatiArunaRun.
Perrysburg, Ohio – September 18
Akron, Ohio – September 18
Columbus, Ohio – October 2
Dalton, Ohio – October 9
The Chic Guide: How can readers help further the Aruna Project mission?
Prud’homme: There are several different ways to engage in our mission:
#RUNforherfreedom – Participate in or sponsor our Aruna Run Race Series. 100% of proceeds help bring freedom
#SHOPforherfreedom – Purchase products hand-made by women who are now free and employed in our Freedom Business. 100% of proceeds are reinvested into the business to fund the holistic care each Artisan receives. In addition to our retail line, we also offer bulk customizable bags, headbands, and gators
#DONATEforherfreedom – Make a tax-deductible donation to help create lifelong freedom.
● Columbus, OH (10/2) ● Dalton, OH (10/9)
● Lincoln, NE (10/10)
The Aruna Summer Virtual Run is being held July 25-31 in observance of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (July 30). Participating in the run is a powerful and tangible way to join the fight to end human trafficking both here in the United States and around the globe. Participants will be running and walking to help bring and sustain freedom to Asma, an enslaved woman we are actively working to free from a brothel in India, and thousands of other women like her. The race swag—a packable race bag and exclusive Aruna headband—is made in freedom by Aruna Artisans, women freed, employed, and empowered thanks to funds raised in previous Aruna Runs. Learn more and register at https://bit.ly/ArunaVirtualRun.
CINCINNATI ARUNA RUN OVERVIEW
Powered by Accenture, the Cincinnati Aruna Run attracts thousands to Smale Riverfront Park on Labor Day to run and walk for the freedom of enslaved women. Race offerings include 5-Mile, 5K, 1-Mile, and Elite 1-Mile. The name of the woman participants will run/walk for will be announced on August 10. The race swag includes an athletic drawstring backpack, universal gator, and sweat towel– all of which are made in freedom by Aruna Artisans. Learn more and register at https://bit.ly/2021CincinnatiArunaRun
