In July 1999, 21-year-old Claire McFarlanel was brutally raped and left almost dead in the streets of Paris, France when she was about to take a cab home after leaving work. Her attacker was captured 10 years later by means of DNA tests; since her attack, she has been fighting for her cause in the French courts.

Last year, McFarlanel, now 38, started what she says is the “biggest journey of her life.” Footsteps To Inspire is a world expedition dedicated to rape survivors and aims to bring awareness and healing to victims. Claire is running over 3,000 kms on beaches throughout the world, and one of those is Jacó, on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast in the province of Puntarenas.

Tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. Claire invites people to run with her on Jacó’s beach in this open, informal event. The meeting spot is Vida Hermosa Restaurant.

On her website, she says, “Hello, my name is Claire McFarlane. I am an Australian from South Africa. I am also a survivor and an adventurer of social causes!

On July 18, 2016 I started the biggest trip of my life. I am currently running over 3000 km of beach in 184 countries in support of survivors of rape.

It’s called Footsteps To Inspire. A global campaign of peaceful action to eliminate the taboo around rape, support the healing process and ultimately make lasting changes.

Footsteps To Inspire is the world’s first expedition and social cause for rape victims … ”

If you want to know its dramatic history, run with it or exchange experiences, details of the event can be found at the following link.

Claire continues her expedition through Central America, heading north to run in Nicaragua on May 6, continuing to El Salvador on May 13, then running in Guatemala on May 20, and in Mexico on June 3.

As part of her journey in Costa Rica, Claire met with the Costa Rican Supreme Court’s gender violence prevention and victim attention program.