On a mission to help end child trafficking, eight bicyclists and their crew are headed for the 2025 Race Across America (RAAM) — a non-stop, transcontinental, six-day relay race starting June 14 in Oceanside, California and ending in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Although it will be a grueling endeavor, the cycling team representing ZOE International realizes their 3,000-mile trek pales in comparison to the horrors child sex trafficking victims face. They are spurred on by their desire to help children find hope and healing.
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The eight-man team is based out of Pennsylvania, with ages ranging from 33 to 56. Nate Eakin is a sixth-grade teacher. Tom Jordan is a bank president. Merv Beiler is a project manager and owner of a drive-thru coffee company. Kevin Quinter is a police detective working with Homeland Security to fight human trafficking.
The men want to make a difference in their community, in the United States and throughout the world, with many team members beginning training as early as the fall of 2024. They spent hundreds of hours on stationary bikes, outdoor rides and strength training.
Prevention, rescue and restoration
Founded in 2002, ZOE International’s mission is to reach every person with God’s love and rescue every child from human trafficking through prevention, rescue and restoration programs in the United States, Thailand, Mexico, Japan and Australia.
Brad Ortenzi, a former undercover police online child exploitation investigator in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, is the team’s race director and Eastern USA regional director for ZOE International.
During a trip to Thailand in 2014 Ortenzi and his wife, Lori, were profoundly impacted as they saw the influence of ZOE’s ministry and God’s redemption story at work.
“We expected to see shattered, broken kids, but instead, we saw children overflowing with joy,” he recalled. “They were healthy and healing, exceeding our expectations. Lori and I were stunned.
“When we saw what was happening, it was a mystery I needed to solve. I wanted to get to the bottom of this. What in the world was going on here?”
After the trip Ortenzi was inspired to take action, prompting the idea of competing in the race, knowing the potential impact it would make in efforts against child trafficking.
“The children’s fight inspired me,” Ortenzi declared. “Every one of them was a fighter — fighting to get their life back. Competing in Race Across America allows ZOE to take this fight against child sex trafficking across the United States.”
As the cyclists race they raise $20,000-50,000 each, going a long way for ZOE International to rescue more children to begin the restoration journey.
In 2019 ZOE competed in the Race Across America and claimed third place, helping raise more than $175,000; in 2021 the team won first place and received donations totaling more than $380,000.
This year’s goal
This year the team goal is $750,000, as the journey takes them from the Pacific Ocean to Chesapeake Bay in under a week.
With some 49 million victims of modern-day slavery worldwide, according to the International Labor Organization, including more than 50,000 in the US, ZOE International knows the team is on a mission to shine a light through the darkness.
“If we pull one child out of sex trafficking, it’s worth it,” crew chief and former cyclist Allen Fisher declared.
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