The atmosphere will be festive, but the message will be serious at the fifth annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 1, in the courthouse square. Starting at the corner of Main and Lakin Ave., the block party will raise awareness about sexual and domestic violence and raise money for the Family Crisis Center to provide services.
“It’s not just a woman’s issue,” explained Laura Patzner, executive director of the Family Crisis Center Inc. “Sexual and Domestic Violence does not just affect women. It affects men and it affects the women men care about.”
That’s why men will be walking around the square wearing red high heels as they raise money. Pledge sheets and relay registrations are available at the Family Crisis Center’s office at 1924 Broadway in Great Bend. Registration is a minimum of $50 for the pledge walk and $200 for relay team registrations. Awards will be presented for top fundraisers in individual and team categories, as an award for the fastest team in the Relay Race.
Keynote speaker will be Michelle Page, Miss Golden Belt. There will also be activities for children, and food concessions.

About the cause
Nearly one in five women and one in 71 men have been raped in their lifetime. In Kansas, one rape is reported to law enforcement every eight hours, 12 minutes and 36 seconds. Rape is one of the top 10 most prevalent person crimes in Kansas. One in every four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. One in five female high school students reports being physically or sexually abused by a dating partner.
“That means someone you know, someone you care about, has been or may become the victim of sexual or domestic violence.  It may be your friend, your mother, your sister, your girlfriend, your wife or your daughter,” Patzner said.
For more information, contact the Family Center by calling 620-793-9941, email walkamile@familycrisiscntr.org, or visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/InHerShoes-CK.