Not long ago, a Fighter named Garrett Jonsson set out to run 30 marathons in 30 days to raise awareness on the harms of pornography. But if that weren’t difficult enough, he added something else—wearing handcuffs during every run to symbolize the addictive chains of pornography.
“Someone you know is struggling. They can’t notify you about it or explain details. All you need to know is that someone you know is struggling HARD. They have been pushed to the edge and they’re about to lose EVERYTHING.”
The beginning description of Garrett’s GoFundMe page shows a harsh fact about those who have fallen into a struggle with porn. So rather than sitting by and watching people struggle, this incredible guy decided to get out and do something about it.
He ran the same route every day in his hometown—26.2 miles while wearing handcuffs—for 30 days straight, and invited others to run with him while promoting the #PornKillsLove movement.
When Jonsson completed his 30th and final marathon, he released a video detailing why he set out on this journey. Check it out:
Jonsson stated his mission simply on his funding page:
“For each marathon I perform, I have an individual who has pledged $1 per mile ($26.20 per marathon); 100% of these funds will go to an organization called Fight The New Drug. Fight The New Drug is a nonprofit that helps build awareness of the harmful effects of pornography. Their tagline is: Porn Kills Love. I love my wife, I love my kids, I love my community and I love you. I believe that LOVE is worth fighting for. I believe that if I’m not actively fighting against pornography, then I’m aiding its growth.”
He explained on the page that his two-part goal was to raise awareness and also spark a desire for change in those who are struggling.
And if that’s not amazing enough, for his last run, Garrett even got the support from actor and Fighter, Terry Crews!
All of that is beyond incredible, right? But there’s more.
Soon after he finished his marathons, he biked across the entire United States to keep the awareness going.
Beginning in Yorktown, Virginia, Garrett’s journey ended up spanning 3,800 miles across 9 states in 56 days. He ended his journey in San Francisco at the Golden Gate Bridge with his wife, who walked the last three miles with him.
On each leg of Garrett’s trek, he dragged chains behind his bike to symbolize the weight of pornography on individuals and society.
He did all this while wearing a Porn Kills Love shirt, which he had people sign as he shared the word about Fight the New Drug and the harms of porn throughout his ride.
All in all, he estimates he handed out hundreds of Porn Kills Love fact cards while averaging 67 miles per day on his bike.
Check out his incredible journey, here:
Now, it’s your turn
People like Garrett are what this movement is all about—diverse Fighters from all across the world using their talents and passion to drive this important cause forward. We are always amazed at the creative ways that our Fighters are coming up with to lend their hand to the movement. This movement is alive with passionate supporters who go to amazing lengths to fight for love.
What will you do to raise awareness?
Your Support Matters Now More Than Ever
Most kids today are exposed to porn by the age of 12. By the time they’re teenagers, 75% of boys and 70% of girls have already viewed itRobb, M.B., & Mann, S. (2023). Teens and pornography. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense.Copy —often before they’ve had a single healthy conversation about it.
Even more concerning: over half of boys and nearly 40% of girls believe porn is a realistic depiction of sexMartellozzo, E., Monaghan, A., Adler, J. R., Davidson, J., Leyva, R., & Horvath, M. A. H. (2016). “I wasn’t sure it was normal to watch it”: A quantitative and qualitative examination of the impact of online pornography on the values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of children and young people. Middlesex University, NSPCC, & Office of the Children’s Commissioner.Copy . And among teens who have seen porn, more than 79% of teens use it to learn how to have sexRobb, M.B., & Mann, S. (2023). Teens and pornography. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense.Copy . That means millions of young people are getting sex ed from violent, degrading content, which becomes their baseline understanding of intimacy. Out of the most popular porn, 33%-88% of videos contain physical aggression and nonconsensual violence-related themesFritz, N., Malic, V., Paul, B., & Zhou, Y. (2020). A descriptive analysis of the types, targets, and relative frequency of aggression in mainstream pornography. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(8), 3041-3053. doi:10.1007/s10508-020-01773-0Copy Bridges et al., 2010, “Aggression and Sexual Behavior in Best-Selling Pornography Videos: A Content Analysis,” Violence Against Women.Copy .
From increasing rates of loneliness, depression, and self-doubt, to distorted views of sex, reduced relationship satisfaction, and riskier sexual behavior among teens, porn is impacting individuals, relationships, and society worldwideFight the New Drug. (2024, May). Get the Facts (Series of web articles). Fight the New Drug.Copy .
This is why Fight the New Drug exists—but we can’t do it without you.
Your donation directly fuels the creation of new educational resources, including our awareness-raising videos, podcasts, research-driven articles, engaging school presentations, and digital tools that reach youth where they are: online and in school. It equips individuals, parents, educators, and youth with trustworthy resources to start the conversation.
Will you join us? We’re grateful for whatever you can give—but a recurring donation makes the biggest difference. Every dollar directly supports our vital work, and every individual we reach decreases sexual exploitation. Let’s fight for real love: