By Joe Bachman

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — Supporting the empowerment of women can be as simple as buying a brat.

On Saturday, July 22, Real Women Real Life will be partnering with Thrivent Financial for a brat fry at Copps Food Center at 9:00 a.m. This coincides with the promotion of the Real Freedom 5K Run/Walk race held in Necedah on August 12, but more importantly educating residents on the very real dangers of human trafficking.

Real Women Real Life supports local missions in Milwaukee and overseas, and they teamed up with Thrivent Financial after they learned of their cause in the fight against human trafficking. Representatives from Thrivent put out the idea of a brat fry with educational tents, not just to multiply the funds and support for the organization and race, but also towards human trafficking awareness.

“I want to do everything that I know I can,” said Real Freedom Race Coordinator Michelle Christensen. “We need to really educate the population that this is everywhere — this is right here in our backyard.”

According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 63 cases have been reported in Wisconsin with a total of 429 victims since 2007. In approximately 85 percent of these cases, the victims are female. There are cases of human trafficking in all counties in Wisconsin.

“It’s something that we’re very passionate about — to bring awareness to the community that every person can be involved in recognizing this, and making a difference.”

For more information on the Real Freedom 5K Run/Walk, “Breaking the Chains of Human Trafficking” you can check out the organization’s website at realwomenreallife.org, or for even more information on human trafficking awareness efforts in your area, check out the Central WI Against Human Trafficking Facebook page.

Copps Food Center is located ta 900 E. Riverview Expressway.