Governor of Bermuda, Sir Richard Gozney and Bishop Ewen Ratteray not only support the Run for Freedom initiative but will be participating in the run on Sunday.

Sir Richard explained he will be walking along Front Street because he has seen modern day slavery first hand and calls it "pretty dreadful".

He said: "We celebrated the bicenteneray of the end of slavery within the old British Empire but we mustn't let that celebration lead to complacency. Modern slavery is widespread, pernicious and evil which can be eradicated through outside pressure on those societies and countries where it happens."

The Governor continued: "Often the Government in those countries have their hands tied either by clever criminals or by social mores or a mixture of the two. Pressure leading to action to stop modern slavery is clearly needed in parts of the world like West Africa and some countries in Asia."

Sir Richard explained in West Africa he saw and talked to children who were trafficked between Nigeria into the wealthier country Gabon, which was short of domestic staff. He said the children's' tales were "dreadful".

"But it's not just in the countries from which the trafficked people start that action is needed. It is also in the destination countries where the Police and other authorities need all the help which we can give them to intercept and take to court and have convicted the very clever and evil people traffickers who are bringing the modern slave trade to their shores, whether its West African girls to Italy or Albanian girls to England."

Bishop Ratteray also backs the campaign and will walk on Sunday.

"It seems like a good idea as modern day slavery is an important issue and this is one bringing attention to it. I like to walk so there's a bit of self interest in there but its mainly for the cause."

He encouraged locals, expats and tourists alike to come out for the cause and to have some fun.

"It's not onerous, it's only a mile or so. Even the most unfit of us can handle that. It's an important matter and the more people involved the better."

The run, which can also be walked, starts at 1 p.m. at Barr's Bay Park and finishes at the same spot. Entertainment is lined up from 1.45 p.m. Late-comers are 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 sign up on-line, or let organisers know you're a local charity who could benefit from Run For Freedom; 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.

See LIFESTYLE page 25.