LexisNexis South Africa is once again on a mission to create awareness and raise funds for charities active in the field of anti-human trafficking, with its second annual Cycle Against Trafficking Challenge set to take place from the Drakensberg to Durban between 5 and 7 October.
This year’s gruelling event will see 18 cyclists, including executives, senior employees and corporate partners, cycle more than 200 kilometres in a bid to raise over R130 000 for the 2015 beneficiary, the National Freedom Network (NFN). The cyclists also participated in a pre-challenge group ride on 5 September from the Durban beach front to Umhlanga in preparation for the main challenge.
Leading the way on his bike will be LexisNexis SA, chief executive officer, Billy Last, while popular KwaZulu-Natal media personality, Damon Beard, will join the last leg of the race.
Last said anti-human trafficking initiatives formed the core of LexisNexis South Africa’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme, LN Cares. “We have a range of programmes that aim to highlight the scourge of human trafficking, which is a big aspect of our global commitment to helping society uphold the Rule of Law,” he said. “We feel it is incredibly important for us to play a positive role in both local and global communities and to support and involve our employees, so that they can help improve the lives of their surrounding communities.”
Beard said he was honoured to be involved in this year’s efforts. “I’m really excited to be involved with the Lexis Nexis team,” he said. “They’re making a huge difference and I’m so honoured to be a part of this incredible campaign.”
In addition, the popular jock’s Big Favour charity drive on East Coast Radio, assisted LexisNexis in fulfilling the wishes of anti-trafficking organisation, Red Light South Africa, which was in dire need of computers for staff and food hamper for victims of trafficking.
The inaugural LexisNexis Cycle against Trafficking Challenge was a great success which raised more than R130 000 for three anti-human trafficking organisations, Mercy House in Johannesburg, Open Door Crisis Centre in Durban and Molo Songololo in Cape Town. This year’s event has attracted support from corporates including First Technology KZN, Afiswitch, Kaleidocode, Bidvest Car Rental, W Create and Gallias Harvard Communications.
The challenge aims to create awareness around the statistics that more than one million people, mostly women and children, are trafficked around the world annually. Closer to home is the fact that South Africa serves as a major source, transit and destination country for many of these victims. LexisNexis South Africa is therefore committed to combatting human trafficking by offering direct financial support, through promoting awareness, sponsoring victims support and assisting with training and education initiatives.
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