TWENTY cities across the globe will take part in the Break the Silence Global Fun Run: Stop Deaf Sexual Abuse, to generate a global awareness and contribute to stopping the sexual abuse of the deaf.
The Cebu leg is set on March 19 at the SM Seaside City and will have four open categories—the men’s and women’s 21-kilometer, 12K, 6K, and 3K. There will be a special category for person-with-disabilities.
The race organized by Philippine Accessible Disability Services, Inc. (Pads), a non-government organization with a vision to help persons with disabilities (PWD), aims to raise funds for the deaf who were victims of harassment, sexual abuse, and human trafficking.
“The proceeds will be used for a yearlong activity, which will involve raising awareness, providing training, and improve access to education,” Pads chief executive John Paul Maunes told reporters in a press conference yesterday.
“We’re also doing follow-up on the cases of those victims. Most of the victims are poor,” added Maunes.
Janice Aparri of Break the Silence Project said through an interpreter that the deaf community is vulnerable to exploitation because they don’t know how to protect themselves. Aparri said that the awareness of the community is much needed.
Rob Gomm of Pads said that the run will be held in two cities of the country—Manila and Cebu. The other legs will be in America, Australia, Asia, Europe and Pacific Nations, while the final run will be hosted by Google at the Googleplex in Mountain View, California.
After the run, there will be a Global Run Festival at the SM Seaside Mountain Wing Atrium with live entertainment, performance and freebies.