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Caroline Murray, of Kitty Hawk, will be biking from Seattle to San Diego this summer to bring awareness, funds and powerful conversations around human trafficking.

Murray graduated First Flight High School in the Class of 2019, where she went on to study advertising at the University of Florida. She knew she wanted to do something big following graduation this month. When she heard about Pedal the Pacific from a local friend who had participated, Murray knew nothing but misconceptions of human trafficking and had never ridden anything but a beach cruiser here and there. Upon learning the realities and hearing stories of survivors, she didn’t understand why no one was talking about one of the top crimes in the world and decided to apply to Pedal the Pacific with her mind set on changing that. “If I can spark change by riding a bike, it’s the least I can do in the fight against human trafficking for others to live freely,” Murray says.

Pedal the Pacific’s mission is to educate all people about sex trafficking by using bikes as a platform to raise awareness, educate peers, fundraise for leading nonprofits and develop leaders who believe that no voice is too small to make a difference.

“Starting June 10th, the team of ten female-identifying members from different cities across the United States, will commence from Seattle, Washington and travel 1,700 miles to San Diego, California on bike,” stated an event press release. “They will also be holding informational events a long the way with new communities.”

Pedal the Pacific has raised over $860,000 for local organizations that fight sex trafficking across the U.S., with the primary 2023 beneficiary being The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). This will be the seventh Pedal the Pacific team to complete the seven-week tour. “Pedal the Pacific is dedicated to raising up advocates who believe that no voice is too small to make a difference,” stated the release.

Murray is excited to announce a chance for the whole community to get involved at 1 p.m. on May 20 at Waveriders in Nags Head. Locals will join together to run, walk or bike 1.7 miles in connection to the 1,700 miles Murray will be doing this summer.

There will be free food, raffles and an ongoing silent auction that has launched at pedalthepacific.betterworld.org/auctions/obxpedalthepacific. To purchase raffle tickets prior to the event, Venmos can be taken at @yogirlcarol for $5 a piece. The winner does not have to be present to win.

To find out more about Pedal the Pacific and beneficiary NCMEC, got to pedalthepacific.org and missingkids.org or for more of Murray’s POV including training and event information, follow on Instagram and Facebook @carolinepedalsthepacific.

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