The Covering House 24,901-Mile Challenge, by F3 Gateway (STL)

Join F3 Gateway (St. Louis) for our 7th annual, week-long virtual activity challenge, benefiting The Covering House. This year, we will attempt to CIRCLE THE GLOBE for TCH... 24,901 miles! We will need your help!  All participants will track and report their mileage throughout the week. Together, we will log more than 24,901 combined miles of walking, running, cycling, or whatever your favorite activity is! 

The goal of the event is to raise awareness about the prevalence of sexual trafficking and exploitation in the Saint Louis area and around the world. This event is also a fundraiser to raise money for a deserving nonprofit that helps survivors of sex trafficking from all around the country, but is based in St. Louis, MO called The Covering House. The funds raised through this event will go directly to the restoration of survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation.

ABOUT THE COVERING HOUSE - https://thecoveringhouse.org/ 

The Covering House provides refuge and restoration, using the least restrictive environment, for sexually exploited and trafficked children and teens, providing safety, dignity, and freedom utilizing top level staffing and oversight. The Covering House provides residential therapeutic services and community based services for youth survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation. These services include counseling, group therapy, education, and mentoring. 


ABOUT F3 ST. LOUIS - https://f3nation.com/ (for F3 STL Locations, click here: https://f3stlouis.com/) 

F3 is a national network of free, peer-led workouts for men. Our mission is to plant, grow and serve small workout groups for men for the invigoration of male community leadership. Started in 2011 in Charlotte, North Carolina, F3 is now in 48 states with  more than 5,400 scheduled workouts a week through the volunteer efforts of men whose lives have been changed by their involvement with the group.

The three Fs in our name stand for Fitness, Fellowship and Faith — the last of which we define as not one specific religion or faith system, but simply a belief in something outside oneself.

Our workouts …
Are free of charge
Are open to all men
Are held outdoors, rain or shine, heat or cold
Are led by men who participate in the workout in a rotating fashion, with no training or certification necessary
End with a Circle of Trust
We welcome men of all fitness levels to our workouts and have no requirement for membership other than that you show up at the appointed time and place and follow what the workout leader (the “Q” in F3 lingo) does.

The F3 Credo is: Leave no man behind, but leave no man where you find him.

The #1 Goal of This Event is Awareness

Yes, we want to log enough miles to circle the globe twice. We need your help doing so!

Yes, we want to raise $250,000 for TCH. Please join us in support of their mission! 

But our #1 goal through this event is raising awareness. 

In 2024, we heard from men on the frontline of the battle against human trafficking in St. Louis. If you missed that conversation, you can CLICK HERE to watch it. 

In September of 2025, 40 men from F3 Gateway in St. Louis gathered to hear from two other experts who continue to fight this evil in our community. Although we did not record the conversation, they did provide materials we can share with the world. Below are a few links to past presentations and upcoming events.

Did you know Missouri Ranks #4 in Human Trafficking?

It's not always strangers. Often, it's people kids have a relationship with who target them for trafficking or exploitation. Learn how kids can be vulnerable, especially online, and how you can help them heal from this trauma. This is heavy work. It's not always easy, but when kids light up and have breakthrough moments in therapy, we know it's worth it.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the issue in our community.

Community Presentations & Training

The Covering House provides various presentation and training opportunities to educate community members about the dangers of sex trafficking and exploitation.

CLICK HERE to request more information about brining the conversation to your workplace, school, church or organization!

Hidden in Plain Sight

Learn what trafficking looks like in our community. This event was hosted in January 2025 for Human Trafficking Prevention Month in partnership with Maritz.

Panelists: Betsy Papin (Child Advocacy Center of Northeast Missouri), Gary Schirmacher (Maritz), Sgt. Donny Walters (Ethical Society of Police President, SLMPD), Keaton Strong (Ritenour School District & Retired Police Captain).

Child Advocacy Center Presentation Oct 22, 2025

October 22, 2025 | 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Middendorf-Kredell Branch, St. Charles County Library
Community Room B

See flyer below for more details.

Don't miss this critical opportunity to gain insight into the hidden signs
of trafficking in plain sight. Your awareness could save a life.

FINANCIAL SPONSOR

We have various sponsorship levels available. Please click on the PDF icon below for more information! 

PLATINUM ($10,000 or MORE)

GOLD ($5,000 or MORE)

SILVER ($2,500 or MORE)

BRONZE ($1,000 or MORE)

AMBASSADOR SPONSORSHIP

An Ambassador Sponsor is a company or organization who helps by inviting people to participate in our event. Because the main purpose of this event is to raise awareness, we encourage anyone to form a team and invite people into the conversation! (30 participant minimum)

DONATE GIVE-AWAYS OR OTHER CREATIVE WAYS

In the past, we have received various items or services from generous partners. Gift cards for giveaways, discounts on shoes and even crafting a beer for the event are just a few ways people have supported The Covering House!