Storrington man’s 500 mile cycle for freedom

James Richardson completed a cycling challenge to raise awareness of modern day slavery

City worker James Richardson, 28, was one of 14 who cycled from Liverpool to London with Sport for Freedom, via Birmingham, Bristol and Oxford .

Hundreds joined the Cycle for Freedom Tour, which ended in London on Anti-Slavery day, Saturday October 18.

James said: “Sport for Freedom are an amazing charity that is not only raising awareness, but also using sport as a tool to rehabilitate rescued victims.”

Two-time Guinness World Record breaker and Olympic torch bearer Julia Immonen led James’ group.

Julia created Sport for Freedom in 2013.

She said: “Thousands are still being trafficked within and into the UK for forced labour and sexual exploitation, and I am passionate to expose the injustice of slavery, which is a growing problem on our doorstep.”

TV presenter and Sport for Freedom ambassador Kirsty Gallacher described modern day slavery as a hidden crime.

But Kirsty added: “We can see the tide turn when it comes to the buying and selling of human beings.”

The Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group estimate that there are 30 million victims of modern day slavery worldwide, with roughly 5000 in the UK at any time.

Many cases go unreported and Sport For Freedom say human trafficking is the largest and fastest growing crime in the world.