- Anew's second annual Free to Fly 5k will be held on April 25 at San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park, with a $30 entry fee including a T-shirt.
- The nonprofit raised over $20,000 last year through about 200 participants to support human trafficking survivors with therapy, care, and education.
Runners and walkers from across North Central Florida are invited to lace up and raise money for anti-human trafficking organization Anew during the Gainesville nonprofit’s second annual “Free to Fly 5k” on April 25.
Following testimonies from survivors who benefitted from Anew, the starter pistol for the chip-timed race goes off at 8 a.m. from San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park in Alachua (13201 Progress Blvd.).
Participants will follow a course winding through the trails to the finish line, where they can win door prizes, a raffle and feast on Luke’s Bagels. Each $30 race entry submitted by April 11 will include an event T-shirt and awards will be given per age group.
“We’re excited to get to share another opportunity for our community to come together for an important cause,” said Anew founder Alison Ungaro.
Now in its second year, Ungaro said her Christian-based organization learned a lot about putting on a race and is already dreaming about its goals for more this year.
Last year, Ungaro said around 200 people participated, helping Anew raise a little over $20,000. She said the funds went far in providing free continual support to survivors in the organization’s residential and nonresidential programs, as well as tools for sustainability, like trauma therapy, medical care and education to continue their healing after graduating.
Anew will also expand its offerings soon with a creator’s space and more safe beds after a recent 10-acre donation.
With local ultramarathon runner Patrick Gallagher, who helped with the first, returning for year two, Ungaro said her organization is ready to surpass last year’s numbers while still setting the bar high for avid racers.
The most impactful thing from last year, Anew will bring back, she said, are survivor testimonies before the race and survivors running in the race to remind participants of the greater cause they’re working for.
“That was the feedback we got the most of last year of being the most impactful was Maddie, who shared her journey with our participants and just how much that meant to people,” Ungaro said.
