On April 6, Harding will host its first ever “Race to be Pure.” The Race to be Pure is a race designed to recognize those who have a desire to be pure in heart, mind and soul. Proceeds will benefit Oklahomans Against Trafficking Humans, a coalition in Oklahoma that is raising awareness about human trafficking.
David Walker, Lady Bison assistant basketball coach, said he came up with the idea for the Race to be Pure after several people he knew participated in Race for the Cure and he realized the awareness that a race could create for a cause.
“(I thought) it would be cool if we could do something similar, but for a moral cause not just a social cause … to promote something that’s biblical,” David Walker said.
David Walker said he quickly decided that if this was something he wanted to do, he needed to commit and get the ball rolling. Walker said he pitched the idea to the members of his Wednesday night devotional, and after winning their support, he began nailing down the specifics.
As he was planning the Race to be Pure, David Walker said he wanted to make sure people understood that the race is open to everyone — not only for those who consider themselves to be “pure.”
“All we’re asking is for people that feel like purity is something worth striving for, that it’s a worthy pursuit, and regardless of what your past is, that as of now you’re trying to pursue purity in all aspects of your life,” David Walker said. “A lot of people associate that with sexual purity, and that is a big part of it … but also just kind of the pursuit of pure living.”
David Walker’s sister, sophomore Brooke Walker, previously volunteered at Oklahomans Against Trafficking Humans, which according to their website, is creating a victim-centered approach to their advocacy in addition to raising awareness about human trafficking. David Walker said he and his sister Brooke Walker decided this would be a good cause to donate money to because while runners are racing for their own purity, they can also be racing for those who have had their purity stolen from them.
“If we were more pure as a culture, the sex trafficking industry might not even exist if we would take care of the purity part,” David Walker said.
The Race to be Pure is now combined with the Highlighter Run, which was postponed due to inclement weather. This means runners will now experience a 5K similar to the color run, where participants are colored with chalk-like paint at each mile mark. Senior Callie Huey, who is a member of the committee behind the Highlighter Run, said though it was unfortunate the Highlighter Run was postponed, she thinks it will be even better now that the two races have joined together.
“There will be even more runners because the races have combined, which will generate more awareness of human trafficking and give more people an opportunity to thank Harding’s donors,” Huey said.
Anyone can register for either run up until the April 6 race day. The Race to be Pure and the Highlighter Run will have separate sign up stations at the race. Each race costs $15 individually or $10 each with a group of 15 runners. The races begin at 10 a.m.
