By MACKENZEE SIMMS | Staff Writer  

PELHAM – Blanket Fort Hope hosted its major fundraiser, the Hold the Fort Race, to raise money in its mission to offer hope for child trafficking victims on Saturday, Nov. 16 at Oak Mountain State Park.

According to Alexa James, the CEO and founder of Blanket Fort Hope, the 2024 installment of Hold the Fort featured more than 270 participants from all over the nation. This year marks the sixth Hold the Fort Race featuring a 5k, 10k and one-mile walk.

“My favorite part about the race is just the commitment over the past six years,” James said. “We have had runners that have been with us the whole six years, and I love that they spread the word.”

Although Blanket Fort Hope has not yet finished totaling the money raised at the event, James shared that the current estimate is $40,000.

“The purpose of the run is to raise funding to help child survivors of human trafficking and to support our nine-bedroom restoration home,” James said.

Blanket Fort Hope is an organization is dedicated to supporting child sex trafficking victims by providing a safe place for children to navigate their experiences and by offering state-approved training for members of the community.

“Blanket Fort Hope started in 2015 and the goal was to advocate on a state level, have a strong educational program and also build a nine-bedroom restoration home to be able to help child survivors and place them for short term and long term care,” James said.

Over the years, James shared that Blanket Fort Hope has been able to raise $1.3 million toward the construction of the nine-bedroom restoration home thanks to fundraising efforts such as the Hold the Fort races.

The nine-bedroom restoration home is currently slated to open in the spring of 2025. The home will offer shelter to children aged 12 to 18, as well as access to various mental health resources and educational offerings.

Blanket Fort Hope also has a Child Placing Agency license to be able to train and recruit foster families and place children in those homes as well.

As the organization approaches the finish line in constructing the restoration home, James wanted to thank everyone involved over the years to make this dream a reality.

“There’s a lot of people, a lot of staff and a lot of volunteers who have helped make this happen,” James said. “We’re very excited that we are so close to being able to help these children. It definitely has been a lot of tenacity, a lot of teamwork, a lot of vision, a lot of praying and depending on God to see us through these 10 years.”

James recognizes that the topic of child sex trafficking is difficult for many to come to terms with, but she believes that this makes the mission of Blanket Fort Hope all the more vital.

“Even though we have to look into this deep, dark, seedy world of human trafficking and child abuse, which is horrendous, we know that it’s happening, and we know that it’s hard for people to see,” James said. “But no matter whether we do this or we don’t do it, it is still going to happen. Blanket Fort Hope is here on the ground, just plowing the grounds to help child survivors of human trafficking. The idea is that we could offer hope to these children.”

Those interested in learning more about Blanket Fort Hope can visit Blanketforthope.org.