Vote for us in the Just Giving Awards 2024!
Staff member who ran 200 kilometres non-stop across the UK for BID shortlisted as a finalist for the JustGiving Outstanding Commitment Award 2024.
Meet Freya, the human rights lawyer with a mission: advocating for the rights of refugees and migrants in the UK.
But she doesn’t just fight in courtrooms; she takes her cause to the streets - literally. In 2023, Freya embarked on an extraordinary journey: to cover 2,500 kilometres, including a non-stop 43-hour run from Bristol to Brook House Detention Centre to raise awareness against the criminalisation of migration.
Motivated by her own experiences of suicide, Freya did it dressed as a Human Disco Ball! Glittering sequins and a trail of disco beats following her every step. Her sparkly ensemble (which she made herself) wasn’t just for show. As she jogged along, disco tunes blared from portable speakers, inviting other runners at Runthrough, Park Run, Midnight Runners, Manchester Marathon, Bristol Great Run and Hackney Half to join her dance.
“People love it,” Freya said. “It’s a friendly conversation starter. A chance to share why I’m doing this.”
And share she did. Freya has now become a recognisable figure in the running community, leading warm-up sessions at the London Half Marathon, organising races like the Blue Monday Run and Race2Crate, and spreading smiles. And she is still going. Since the end of her 2,500 kilometres she has worked with Pete Cooper and Dan Strang to set up Coopah's Refugee Run Club, which now has over 100 members from temporary accommodation. There is a documentary on the project set for release in late 2024!
Freya's efforts raised over £21,000 for Bail for Immigration Detainees, making a tangible impact on the lives of those who most need access to justice. Freya’s ongoing disco-powered activism reminds us that sometimes, the most impactful revolutions come with a powerful soundtrack.'
