Bedard’s and Therafirm Sponsor Moninda Movement to End Human Trafficking

Kansas City, Kan. (July 27, 2015)—Kenyan runner Moninda Marube has a big mission—one that will take him 3,700 miles on foot across the U.S.

Moninda grew up in Kenya. A lack of steady money and political violence contributed to a difficult life as a youth. But, his talent for running allowed him a way out, and his journey landed him in the United States.

In the U.S., Moninda began training, but ran into financial difficulties. To help out, he began training with other Kenyan runners under a manager. It was with this manager that Moninda fell victim to human trafficking. The manager would keep winnings from the races the Kenyans ran, leaving little for living expenses. Moninda lived in a house infested with bedbugs with no air conditioning and very little food. Finally in 2012, Moninda met Dan Campbell, the technical director of the Santa Barbara International Marathon. He ran the Marathon and broke the course record. Campbell helped him get out of his situation and relocate to Auburn, Maine, where life is finally good.

Becoming involved with the Auburn, Maine Police Athletic/Activities League (PAL) and motivated to help others, he began The Moninda Movement to help bring awareness of human trafficking. The 4-month journey kicked off in Auburn, Maine and includes an approximately 30-mile run 6 days a week. Along the way, Moninda is speaking at PAL centers around the country to spread his message.

The Moninda Movement and its mission soon attracted the attention of sponsors—Bedard Pharmacy and Medical Supplies located near the mission’s beginnings in central Maine, and Therafirm, a compression hosiery manufacturer based in Hamlet, North Carolina with corporate offices in Kansas City, Kansas.

Bedard Pharmacy and Medical Supplies has a long history of serving its local community. As a small, family-owned and operated business headquartered in Auburn, Maine, they are a company that cares about their customers like family. Providing the community with the best quality medical supplies and equipment available is how they strive to inspire and empower individuals to take life’s challenges as they come, and to live life on their terms. They are also proud to be one of the last independent pharmacies in the state of Maine.

Moninda’s mission was a perfect fit for Therafirm. The U.S. manufacturer produces true gradient compression socks and hosiery including a line of athletic compression socks and leg and arm sleeves. Gradient compression in athletic socks and sleeves feature compression that is greatest at the ankle and gradually decreases toward the top of the stocking to help increase energy for endurance, better performance and reduces muscle fatigue and recovery times. But, equally important, Therafirm, as well as parent company Knit-Rite, Inc., holds improving lives as its mission, not only in the products it makes, but also in the many causes it supports locally and beyond.

The co-sponsorship includes a cargo van that Moninda’s crew will use on the journey, as well as Therafirm-branded compression socks and sleeves and Moninda’s athletic apparel. Custom decals on the van and screen-printing on Moninda’s apparel will advertise The Moninda Movement’s message throughout his journey. In addition to the above support, Therafirm and Bedard will donate a significant portion of proceeds from the retail sales of CoreSport, CoreSpun and Therafirm’s new sports compression line, launching September 1, to the Moninda Movement. Sales through Bedard’s Auburn, Maine store and website, bedarddirect.com, between July 27, 2015, and March 31, 2016, will benefit Marube Moninda’s foundation.

Visit the Moninda Movement website to follow Moninda on his journey and to learn more.