Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 767

Tonight's special guest is Norma Bastidas from Vancouver, Canada, an abuse survivor and activist who uses her athletic abilities to bring about awareness. On July 11, 2009, Norma became the fastest and fiercest female in history by running 7 of the planet's most unforgiving environments on all 7 continents in 7 months. Norma trekked through the thick jungles of Brazil and the driest deserts in the world, all in support of the blind and visually impaired (her son has an incurable eye condition that could lead to blindness). Her story was featured as an "Extra Ordinary Mom" on the Oprah Winfrey Network: Norma Bastidas Races Through the Desert. Norma is no stranger to adversity; she has overcome poverty, rape, abuse and addiction. Now she confronts another opportunity to teach her kids and thousands of survivors across the world the astonishing strength of the human spirit. “Ultras are tough, both physically and emotionally,” admits Norma, “but the challenge is only temporary. After I finish an ultra, my life goes back to normal, but survivors have to keep overcoming huge challenges every day of their lives.” Her new challenge surpasses anything ever accomplished in human history: Norma will complete more than 5,000 miles of consecutive swimming, biking, and running in the World's Longest Triathlon starting March 1st, 2014. Norma Bastidas is a woman who would go to the end of the world and back to be a light in the darkness for survivors and children. "Be Relentless," the documentary about her record-setting journey, is her gesture to ending modern slavery and empowering survivors everywhere.