Barton Community College students and employees donned red high heels to raise funds for the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser for the Family Crisis Center in Great Bend last Thursday. The event culminated with a public display of stiletto strutting in the courthouse square.
Barton’s “Team Fine Arts” received the Ruby Red Shoe award as the top fundraising team with a total of $1,200 raised. Team Fine Arts consisted of team captain Rick Abel, Rick Bealer, Dave Barnes, Ed Johnson, J.D. Smith and two students, David Berry and C.J. Bookout.  
The team received advice on how to walk in the notorious style of shoes from Miss Sunflower Angela Thomas, who was also present at the event.
Bealer was awarded the “Best Dressed” award for his stunning red and white ensemble.
In addition to their participation in the public walk downtown, members of Team Fine Arts also volunteered to wear their heels on campus on the 26th if they met their initial goal of $500. They kept their word and could be seen in various classes sporting their red high-fashion pumps.
Bealer said he was happy to participate in the fundraiser.
“It is to make a stand against sexual violence, and I know it is often perceived as a women’s issue, but it’s a male issue as well,” he said.  “It’s a very small thing I can do to be in support of a very fine program.”
The Walk  a Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser is “an international men’s march to stop rape, sexual assault and gender violence.”  For more information about the fundraiser visit walkamileinhershoes.org.