A Deer Park woman will shine a light on the world’s fastest-growing criminal industry by traversing Cambodia on one of the planet’s slowest-moving forms of transport.
Lisa Nguyen, 26, will head to Cambodia this month to cycle 415 kilometres over five days, raising awareness of south-east Asia’s sex trafficking industry.
Ms Nguyen was moved after hearing a talk by Cambodian sex trafficking victim Somaly Mam, who escaped her captors and has dedicated her life to rescuing tortured women through a charitable foundation.
“I heard Somaly Mam speak at a breakfast event with Business Chicks, an association I’m a member of,” Ms Nguyen said. “When I saw the cycle challenge event pop up in September last year, I thought it was the right time and an opportunity for me to jump on board.”
The Somaly Mam Foundation funds Cambodian centres that rescue, rehabilitate and educate women and children as young as three who have been forced into sexual exploitation.
Ms Nguyen will ride up to 105 kilometres a day as her team visits rescue centres across the country before finishing in Sihanoukville. Her team hopes to raise at least $7000 for the foundation.
