Men, whether you think you look good in heels or not, the second-annual Walk-a-Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser will give a chance to show of those legs.
As part of the International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault, and Gender Violence, the Family Crisis Center is hosting its second-annual walk Saturday, April 30, at Jack Kilby Square, in downtown Great Bend. Registration starts at 1 p.m. with an opening address at 1:30. Walking will take place from about 1:45 to 4 p.m., followed by a closing ceremony.
“Teams of four will ‘put themselves in her shoes’ (literally) to show their commitment to stopping sexual assault and domestic violence,” said center Executive Director Laura Patzner. The team with the fastest time wins and additional prizes will be awarded for Best Dressed, Most Graceful, and Most Likely to Turn an Ankle.
There is a $200 entry fee per team of four men, and each participant will receive a T-shirt and a pizza coupon. Each team is asked to walk enough laps around the square to total one mile. Patzner said there is still plenty of time to get a team together.
And, if one doesn’t think they have size 13 heels, have no fear. The shoes will be provided in a wide range of sizes.
Event sponsorships are also available in several categories.
And awareness is needed. In 2010, the center provided services to 87 sexual violence victims in its, 10-county coverage area. Nationally, a forcible rape occurs every 1.3 seconds.
According to walkamileinhershoes.org, Frank Baird first proposed Walk a Mile in Her Shoes: The International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault and Gender Violence in 2001 in California. The Men’s March started out small and has grown each year since, with larger crowds attending each March and Marches held in multiple locations benefiting multiple rape crisis centers.
For more information or to register, contact the Family Crisis Center (2008 11th St. in Great Bend) at 620-793-9941 or e-mail info@familycrisiscntr.org.