Do You Have What it Takes to “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®?"

To coincide with National Sexual Assault Awareness month in  April,  Harford County-based non-profit SARC will host its sixth annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®: The International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence” on Saturday, April 26, 2014 in downtown Bel Air, Md. The event has a goal of raising $50,000 to support SARC, which provides hope and resources for victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking.

The event tent outside The Mill of Bel Air will open at 9:30 a.m. and onsite registration begins at 10 a.m. Kickoff announcements and fundraising awards will begin at 10:30 a.m. while the mile-long walk begins at 11 a.m. Starting at The Mill of Bel Air, walkers will proceed south along North Main St. then turn right onto Churchville Rd., looping around right onto S. Bond St. to end at MaGerk’s Pub and Grill for an after-party. Ten percent of all proceeds raised from the after-party will be donated back to SARC.

The event is a light-hearted way for men to raise awareness in their community about the very serious causes, effects and remediations to men’s sexualized violence against women. Many of the men wear

ladies’ high heels as a way of demonstrating the old saying, “You can’t understand someone until you’ve walked a mile in her shoes.” Male walkers will be provided with shoes while supplies last. The event is also open to women and children. Each walker is encouraged to raise sponsorship funds. Individuals who raise more than $500 and teams that raise more than $1,000 will be presented with comfortable slippers, in lieu of high heels, to walk their mile.

“I’ve already begun high-heel boot camp! I’m man-enough to walk in high heels—are you?” jokes Harford County Council President Billy Boniface, who is serving as the event’s Honorary Chair and who will also be walking the event. “In all seriousness, this is a fun way to raise awareness and support for a very important issue. Harford County is not immune to the violence against women that plagues our nation and I hope that everyone will come out to walk alongside others to support SARC’s valuable work in our community.”  

To sign-up or sponsor a walker for the Bel Air event, visit the event page or email information@sarc-maryland.org. For additional information on SARC’s “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®: The International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence”, visit the event Facebook page.