By Melanie Davis
One Boone woman has committed herself to a grueling 300-mile
trek on a bicycle through Cambodia in the name of those who
cannot speak for themselves.
Lisa Crane trains for
her 300-mile bicycle trek through Cambodia. Photo
by Mark Mitchell |
Lisa Crane of Boone will be participating in the Futures ’09
cycle challenge for the Somaly Mam Foundation in March. The
foundation raises money and awareness about the sex trafficking
trade worldwide.
A couple of months ago, Crane attended the showing of the
film “Trade,” which depicts the sex trafficking
industry in Mexico. As a psychotherapist specializing in traumatized
children, the film made an impression on Crane she couldn’t
ignore.
“The film left me feeling saddened and horrified to learn
that millions of children, usually 14 years old, and younger,
are forced into selling their bodies to men for pleasure,”
she said. “Often beaten, tortured and held prisoner,
they are released and left to die alone once they have contracted
AIDS.”
At the same time, Crane felt gratitude.
“I was saddened and horrified, yes, but gratified to
know that, despicable as it is that these evils that perpetrated
against children, their voices are being heard,” she
said. “I was grateful to the Appalachian Women’s
Fund, High Country Women’s Fund, Equality Now, and Bonnie
and Jamie Schaefer, the owners of Westglow Spa, for bringing
this important issue to the attention of our small, safe town,
where it is so easy to remain insulated and believe that atrocities
like this do not exist.”
Crane moved to Boone 13 years ago in search of a safe, beautiful
place to raise her daughter, then 8 years old. She started
teaching at Appalachian State University and working in the
counseling center on campus. Crane is now a therapist at the
Blue Mountain Center for the Healing Arts, specializing in
children and adolescents who have been abused.
Following the film presentation, Crane began researching online
to find ways to contribute to the fight against the sex trafficking
industry. What she found was that the sex-slave trade was
not isolated to one country, but rather a global epidemic.
“I had hoped to become involved in this country, but
found this Futures ride,” she said.
The Somaly Mam foundation was founded by Somaly Mam, a native
Cambodian, who was herself sold in sexual slavery at a young
age. The organization rescues young women from brothels and
works to rehabilitate them, teach them job skills and help
them rejoin society.
Once Crane stumbled upon the Web site, she became committed
to the upcoming ride. Each rider is expected to raise $4,500
by Feb. 27, which is the amount necessary to house and rehabilitate
one young woman brought out of a brothel.
Crane contributed the $500 entry fee herself and is currently
training. Not an avid cyclist, she admits the trek will be
a personal challenge. She joined Statisform Gym in September
simply to maintain her health. The ride was not yet in sight.
Her trainer, Chris O’Donnell, has now committed with
Crane to help her prepare for the trip. He has offered to
donate his time to help her.
The journey is 489 kilometers through the back roads of Cambodia.
Each day will involve four to seven hours of riding for two
weeks.
“It does sound daunting,” she said. “There
are moments, especially when it gets to the steeps, that is
going to be difficult.”
Currently, Crane is training every day, watching her sleep
and diet to prepare. The journey will push her, not only physically,
but monetarily, as well. The foundation does not pay for airfare
or the vaccinations required for the trip. Crane will be paying
out of pocket for those expenses. The remaining $4,500 must
be raised prior to the trip in order for Crane to participate.
To support Crane on her journey, visit www.somaly.org and
look for the Futures ’09 link. Her profile with a secure
donation link is posted among the other riders. The foundation
is registered in the U.S. as a 501(c)(3) organization, and
all donations are tax deductible.
“Helping people is much harder than it looks – yet
at the end of day, I believe there are things we can do that
make a powerful difference,” she said. “Western-designed
efforts aren’t always as successful as they should be.
Often, the best approach is to support local people who know
the local terrain.”
“That’s why it’s so wonderful to see people
like Somaly providing leadership, with Westerners providing
support.”
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