Like many campaigns which have caught the public's imagination, Charlotte Wilberforce's Run For Freedom started from the humblest of beginnings.

Under Ms Wilberforce's leadership, about 40 hardy souls took to the streets of London for a three-mile run to raise cash and awareness for the fight against modern day slavery on March 25 this year.

Support for the event was so impressive ¿ with $2,400 raised for anti-slavery group Stop The Traffik ¿ that a repeat run involving hundreds of participants has been lined up for 2008.

Now, Ms Wilberforce is calling for that spirit to be recaptured when the equivalent event takes place in Bermuda under her organisation on March 23 next year.

As The Royal Gazette reported last week, Ms Wilberforce, who arrived in Pembroke for work reasons earlier this year, is determined that the Island's first Run For Freedom will help spread the anti-slavery message here.

Recalling how backing for London's Run For Freedom built from nothing, she said yesterday: "I just started having conversations with people and momentum built up. Everyone can relate in some way to what we were trying to do: men, women and children alike.

"It encourages me as it proves that in our modern day lives, we can still make time for others.

"I had some children running in London who understood why they were taking part and it proves how easy it is to imagine how abhorrent these modern atrocities are. Bermuda understands the legacy of slavery, and I hope that by raising awareness and people joining in the run ¿ or even walking ¿ we are showing the world that slavery simply must be stopped."

Ms Wilberforce is the great-great-great granddaughter of William Wilberforce, the trailblazing British politician who pushed anti-slavery legislation through Parliament two centuries ago.

She marked the bicentenary of her ancestor's 1807 Abolition of the Slave Trade Act by organising a run around London's Square Mile, mainly involving family and friends.

Cash raised went towards Stop The Traffik, an international coalition of anti-slavery groups which Ms Wilberforce was introduced to at a showing of Amazing Grace, the movie telling the inspirational story of her ancestor.

The Run For Freedom in Bermuda is set to take place on March 23, the nearest Sunday to the anniversary. It will be a three or four-mile sponsored run or walk in or around the City of Hamilton. Plans are being drawn up for a series of celebrations to take place on the same day. The Run For Freedom is being backed by this newspaper's Break The Chains campaign, which for the past few months has been putting pressure on global leaders to end the captivity of more than 12 million men, women and children across the world.

Support for the run has already come from Premier Ewart Brown, Opposition Leader Michael Dunkley, Social Rehabilitation Minister Dale Butler, Bishop of Bermuda Ewen Ratteray and Glenn Fubler of community group Imagine Bermuda 2009. Mr. Dunkley and Bishop Ratteray have said they will take part.

If you want to take part, call Tim Smith on 278-8359 or e-mail tsmith@royalgazette.bm