In the summer of 2018, members of a Children's Rescue Initiative rescue team were deployed on a mission in an undisclosed country. All told, this four-person team traveled nearly 1,000 miles and rescued 34 children. This walk honors a special day on that mission.

On this particular day, the team conducted a rescue mission in the morning and dropped three children off at sanctuary. They then traveled nearly a half-a-day's ride to conduct two more rescue missions at different locations. The team left the last rescue site with six children total - all severely emotionally, physically, and sexually abused.

Halfway to the sanctuary location, the vehicle pulled over to the side of a dirt road. The local assets explained to the team that this was as far as the team would go. That the assets "would take it from here." The Team Leader was not satisfied with that answer. He embodied the CRI concept that we ALWAYS ensure that the children under our care are safe and secure at sanctuary prior to moving on. Thus, began an impromptu hike through the jungle to the sanctuary location. This hike navigated brutal terrain, ravine rope bridges, and punishing jungle vegetation...eventually leading to a small sanctuary located in a jungle clearing.

There were four rescue team members. There were six children. The children were in no shape to make this hike on their own. Fighting fatigue, thirst, a hostile environment and impending darkness, the team hauled all of their equipment, extra items, and water, and they also literally carried the children on their backs and shoulders to liberate them. This has become known at CRI as The Walk of Freedom. This event was created to honor those children and the team members who rescued them.

Walk of Freedom 5K - Conneaut Lake

Carry the Weight of Someone Else's Freedom

Team Leaderboard

Team Members