Justice Run raises $6,300 to aid children's groups

The Justice Run, as the event was billed, was organized jointly by the University’s Manna Christian Fellowship and the Princeton Theological Seminary’s Seminarians for Peace and Justice (SPJ). Both groups had been individually planning five-kilometer races for charity, but they chose to combine their events and split the funds raised between both groups’ pet projects.

The Children of War Center provides counseling, medical treatment and other services for former Ugandan child soldiers. The Child Trafficking Prevention Center raises funds to send children to Indian public schools and operates a home to prevent children from falling into the hands of sex traffickers. Both organizations received donations beyond the registration fees.

Organizers had more in mind for the event than just raising money, however.

“There were three goals: first to bring the community together, two [to] create awareness ... and finally, to raise funding for our respective groups,” Justice Run co-director and SPJ member Matt Fredericks said. “There is a growing awareness that slavery is not a thing of the 19th century.”

“I think this event is really important because it is seeking to rescue children and based in a Christian framework,” Seminary student Sam Murchie said. “It’s a message of social fellowship.”

Richard Andrews ’09, Justin Pines ’08 and Bryan Sharkey ’09 shared first place, crossing the finish line at the same time, their clasped hands in the air.

“We thought it would be inappropriate to win alone because when you seek justice, you seek justice together,” Andrews said.

Their joint win, 18 minutes, eight seconds after the race started, was not pre-planned. “We didn’t come to seek victory,” they said together.

The first-place winner among the women was Princeton resident Carrie Brox, who said she chose to participate because she liked the idea of running to help children. Rachel Dunn ’10, who is also a senior writer for The Daily Princetonian, came in second, followed by Lauren Whatley ’11.

In addition to Manna and SPJ, the run was sponsored by the Student Volunteers Council, Athletes in Action, Princeton Faith and Action, Impact Christian Fellowship, the USG Projects Board and the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students.