Chris Bodkin can't make Sunday's Run For Freedom — so in the name of solidarity he flew to Bermuda a few days early to take part yesterday.

Mr. Bodkin, a US town councillor with Bermudian roots, joined Charlotte Wilberforce to walk along Front Street — from Barr's Bay Park to the Longtails and back — as the anti-slavery charity kicked into top gear ahead of the big day.

He has been following Ms Wilberforce's efforts via The Royal Gazette's website over the past few months and made arrangements to join in when the run was initially scheduled for March 23.

It was later put back one week to avoid a clash with Easter Sunday, so Mr. Bodkin — unavailable next weekend — opted to walk yesterday instead.

Mr. Bodkin, from the Town of Islip in Long Island, has studied the history of slavery and has been inspired by the work of UK slave emancipator William Wilberforce, Charlotte's great-great-great grandfather.

"I admire you and all of you who are taking part. You're putting in hours and hours for no financial reward," he told the Run For Freedom team yesterday.

"This is a great thing. Maybe it will grow into something bigger.

"Awareness of slavery in the States is pitiful. It's only just beginning to get into public schools. When I went through the public school system, it was barely mentioned."

He said he had been "flabbergasted" to learn the extent to which the north of the US benefited from slavery, with universities and other institutions built from the proceeds.

"Educated people, cultured, well-read people, all benefited from slavery. You have to ask: 'What were they thinking?'

"You wonder what we are doing today that we don't understand about. People will look back in 100 years and ask what we were thinking."

Mr. Bodkin, whose uncle used to run Salt Kettle House in Paget, has researched the history of slavery on the Island where, although there were no plantations, slaves were put to work in homes, on ships and on the land.

Asked how Bermuda could attempt to make amends for its own slavery past, he said: "If I were king of Bermuda, I would look for equality and employment, health benefits and education — ways that reparations could be made to the African-American community.

"Members of the African-American community will have been here since those times. I don't see cash would work on its own. Education targeted to that community would be an equitable way of reparation."

Mr. Bodkin also made a donation to Stop The Traffik, the international anti-slavery coalition which will benefit from the run.

The charity helps at least 12 million men and children in numerous countries across the world who are trapped in various forms of modern day slavery such as human trafficking, child labour and bonded labour. Organisers hope to raise awareness of their plight and put pressure on global leaders to end modern day slavery.

Ms Wilberforce thanked Mr. Bodkin for his support, saying: "He's taken an interest and he's done his own research and been actively involved.

"He's proved he can help by making a donation and doing the walk to show solidarity. It's invaluable to have that kind of support. We can all do it. In our own small way, we can all do something."

A simultaneous Run For Freedom takes place in London on Sunday. Mr. Bodkin says he will attempt to make it a hat-trick next year by seeing if he can set up another Run For Freedom in New York.

The run, which can also be walked, starts at 1 p.m. at Barr's Bay Park and finishes at the same spot, where entertainment is being lined up from 1.45 p.m. Late-comers will be encouraged to do the walk and catch up afterwards.

Entry forms are available from Daisy & Mac, Washington Mall Upper Level, KAFU Hair and Gallery in Parliament Street, The Royal Gazette office in Par-la-Ville, and are being distributed elsewhere.

It costs $10 for children up to 16; $20 for adults; $50 for a family of four; $30 to enter on the day of the event.

The first 300 entrants will receive a free T-shirt and goody bag.

You can send direct payments to Bank of Bermuda's Run For Freedom account on 010-778488-011. You can also sign up on-line, or let organisers know you're a local charity who could benefit from Run For Freedom, by e-mailing runforfreedom [AT]yahoo.com.

For more information, visit www.geocities.com/runforfreedom/london_bermuda.html or check out the Run For Freedom Facebook group, which now has more than 200 members.