‘Never Ignore, Never Forget' Relay Team Named Darfur Heroes by Save Darfur Coalition

Student-organized relay ran more than 1,300 miles while raising awareness and funds for civilian protection in Darfur

WASHINGTON - The Save Darfur Coalition today honored the "Never Ignore, Never Forget" (http://www.neverignore.org) cross-country relay team for their efforts to raise awareness about the Darfur genocide and $25,000 for the Genocide Intervention Network's civilian protection program. The relay was an initiative of eight students from the Wichita, Kan. area committed to ending genocide. In two weeks, the team ran 1,300 miles to Washington - participating in awareness-raising events along the route. For their efforts, the Save Darfur Coalition named the team its July Darfur Heroes.

The Heroes program, started last year by the coalition, highlights individuals and groups who play a crucial role in helping end the violence in Darfur through awareness-raising and other efforts.

In a blog entry on the Save Darfur website, Matthew Heck - the primary organizer of the relay - recalled three testimonies by Darfuri refugees during a meeting of the Central Ohio Darfur Solidarity Network in Columbus in which the team participated.

"Even in retrospect, I can hardly describe how I felt while I heard their stories: pity, sadness, disbelief. The blatant slaughter and disrespect for human life seems absolutely foreign to me," Heck wrote. "However, what is even more disheartening is the realization that America, the great country founded on the principles of equality for all regardless of race, religion or ethnicity, can turn a blind eye to a dispute fueled by prejudice."

Heck's blog on the "Never Ignore, Never Forget" relay can be found here: http://www.savedarfur.org/section/heroes_archive/julys_darfur_heroes/.

"Matthew Heck and the Never Ignore team prove that individuals can lead when governments fail to live up to their responsibilities," said Genocide Intervention Network executive director Mark Hanis. "The thousands of dollars they raised will be used to ensure the protection of women and girls living in camps in Darfur. The Never Ignore project is a challenge to communities and governments who fail to stand up to the world's worst crimes."

Darfur Heroes will feature one outstanding activist's story each month - through a blog featured on Save Darfur's website - not just to recognize those individuals who have helped build the movement, but also to inspire others with unique fundraising and awareness-raising tactics. Previous Darfur Heroes have included "Big Kenny" Alphin of the country music duo Big & Rich, Lindsey Ronald - creator of Run for Darfur (http://www.RunForDarfur.org), and Miriam and Jacob Hodesh - who deleted their wedding registry and instead asked friends and family to make donations to help end the genocide in Darfur, among others.

Heck's blog on the "Never Ignore, Never Forget" relay can be found here.