Great World Race for Freedom

Four athletes set out to do the impossible: run seven marathons on seven continents in one week—all to raise $500,000 to rescue and restore girls from sex trafficking. Halfway through the race, the team found themselves caught up in something much bigger than any of them could have imagined.

Brent Silkey, Ellie Romnes, Jacky Hunt-Broersma, and Paul Hurckman trained for months to prepare their bodies to finish one of the most grueling endurance events on the planet: The Great World Race.

From November 15-21, each team member raced 91 to 183 miles (199,000 to 400,000 strides). One day, they faced blinding snow and negative temps in Antarctica. The next day, they faced a 100-degree temperature swing in Perth, Australia, for the next marathon. They started at midnight in Colombia, running for 6 hours in darkness. The body became weak as their mental, physical, and emotional tolls stacked, yet team morale remained high.

“This was a God ordained thing... to have us all here and doing this together on behalf of girls who need rescue. It was the toughest physical challenge that any of us have taken on. But it makes it all worth it knowing that freedom will come as a result of our united efforts.”
- Brent Silkey

No matter what was thrown at them, they pressed forward, pushing through pain, mental fatigue, and sleepless flights. Struggle became part of the journey, continually demanding their grit, courage, and relentless determination to cross all seven finish lines.

Their story inspired others to join the fight because people saw what happens when courage meets action. Friends and supporters joined through their prayers, encouragement, and generosity. Others stepped into the story through the Unreal Challenge by running laps, shooting baskets, surfing, baking cookies, crafting bracelets, and even selling a cow.

After finishing the fifth marathon in Portugal, the $500,000 goal had already been surpassed. A new dream quickly took hold: could the community rally to reach $1 million?

People leaned in. Moved by the team’s remarkable courage, thousands followed the story online and shared it with their circles. Engagement grew. Sacrificial giving poured in from individuals, families, church communities, and businesses, leading to a historic outcome.

In the end, what began as a seemingly impossible endeavor by a team of four finished with seven marathons completed on seven continents in one week—and a global community joining the movement to raise $1,009,297 to rescue and restore girls from sex trafficking.