Run To Romania – Sameena van der Mijden
Sameena and her rescue dog Poppie are running an ultramarathon from Rotterdam to Romania to fight sexual exploitation. Key highlights include starting on June 5th, drawing attention to forced prostitution, and raising funds for a documentary and the BloomHouse recovery clinic.
The Journey of Resilience
Sameena, an ultramarathon runner for TeamNL, knows how to push the body to its limits. At age 18, she survived two years of forced prostitution after falling victim to a ‘loverboy’. She rebuilt her life alone without help, paying off debts, finishing nursing studies, and becoming the Dutch 100 KM champion.
Her rescue dog, Poppie, shares a similar past of survival. Poppie spent four agonizing years tied to a short chain in Romania, leaving her with lasting injuries before finding a second chance at life.
Breaking the Silence
With the #RunToRomania campaign, Sameena turns her painful past into a powerful mission. She runs to break the taboo around human trafficking and forced prostitution. Her goal is to open up the conversation and protect young people from falling into the same traps.
The Documentary: ‘On the Road’
To spread this vital message globally, Sameena is filming a documentary titled ‘On the Road’, featured actively on Instagram and TikTok.
- The Goal: Release the film on national and international television and streaming platforms.
- The Cost: Releasing a professional documentary requires an estimated 150,000 euros.
- Current Progress: Already, 45,000 euros has been successfully raised for production.
The Vision for BloomHouse
Support systems for survivors remain critically inadequate. BloomHouse is planned as a dedicated recovery clinic designed to offer the real, long-term help that victims need to heal from trauma, rebuild their independence, and reclaim their futures.