I first heard about Pedal the Pacific through social media, like many others before me. It was a silly Tiktok, showcasing the day to day antics of riding the coast with 9 other women. I was immediately drawn in, wanting to learn more. What I saw when I explored the Pedal the Pacific socials was an inspiring, tenacious group of women who supported each other fiercely and were passionate about an important cause that I honestly had not a single clue about. Now that I have been welcomed into this family, I can attest that this is exactly what the organization is. Over the past 3 months, I have felt more supported and empowered to reach my fullest potential than ever before.
Along with seeing the impassioned group of women that make up Pedal the Pacific, I quickly learned the organization is much more than a bike ride. I had heard of sex trafficking from TV and movies before, but to be honest I didn’t give it much thought as I believed it was something far, far removed from my life. I quickly learned that this was not at all the truth, and that sex trafficking was much more prevalent than I realized, and that it was happening in the communities all around me, not some far away country.
I quickly learned that this was not at all the truth, and that sex trafficking was much more prevalent than I realized, and that it was happening in the communities all around me, not some far away country.
As I learned more about Pedal the Pacific’s cause, I realized that this was something I wanted to be a part of. I have always been drawn to spaces where I am able to help others, and this was a way I could make a real, visible impact on people’s lives. I am lucky enough to have autonomy over my body, and the freedom to make choices in my life. This is something I took for granted for a long time in my life, and after working with PTP the past 6 months, I know how fortunate I am. So many children have the autonomy of their body and their ability to make choices stripped away from them when they are trafficked. With this in mind, I am eternally grateful for the opportunity that lies ahead of me to challenge myself physically and mentally as I bike down the coast spreading awareness and starting hard conversations. At the end of the day, I ride because I can, and so many can’t.
There is a lot I do not know about the realities of sex trafficking, but I am learning more each and every day, and I intend to continue to do so as I ride and beyond. Pedal offered me an environment where it was okay to not know everything, so long as I was committed to learning. Joining the 2025 team in October was just the launching point for my advocacy journey, and that is the beauty of Pedal the Pacific. Each and every member of my team comes from drastically different backgrounds and came to Pedal for unique reasons. We are united by a passion for making change and wanting to better ourselves and more importantly, the world around us. I am so excited to take on this journey together, and see what the ride will open our eyes to.
Sex trafficking is a real, prevalent issue in our communities, and is something that needs to be discussed, no matter how uncomfortable that may be for some. I ride to start these conversations. I ride to join a powerful group of women before me who have made real impacts on our world. And most importantly, I ride for those who cannot.
