Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

On Saturday, April 16, Safenet Services will host their 6th annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” in conjunction with National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® is an award-winning, nation-wide walk-a-thon in which participants are encouraged to literally walk one mile in women’s shoes. It is a playful opportunity to raise awareness in the community about the serious causes and effects of violence against women.

The walk is described as “The International Men’s Walk to stop rape, sexual assault, and gender violence,” but Safenet invites the whole family (including the dogs) to walk with us.

Participants will begin their one mile walk at 10 a.m. at Gazebo Park. Walkers walk to remember, honor, or support those who have been affected by sexual assault and/or domestic violence. “Domestic violence and sex­ual assault are not just women’s issues,” added Grabow. “It affects the men who care about them, their families, their friends, their coworkers, and their communities. One in four American women is a victim. That means someone you know, someone you care about, has been or may become the victim of sexual violence. It may be your mother, your sister, your friend, your girlfriend, your wife, your coworker, or your daughter.”

“This year we want to encourage the formation of teams of five or more. Get together with your family, friends, church members, sports team members, or co-workers to form your team,” says Donna Grabow, Safenet’s Executive Director. “Awards will be given to teams who raise the most money for the cause by means of asking others to sponsor their walk or making donations themselves. We will also give swag bags for teams and indi­viduals who have fundraised above their registration fee.”

“This year we are adding a ‘Red Shoe Runway Show’ for the brave guys who are really man enough to walk in her shoes,” says Emily Brown, Safenet’s Resource Coordinator. The runway show isn’t limited to men though. We invite women, children, and dogs to enter. We will be giving awards in several categories and we hope that every team will enter a representative. All walkers are encouraged to wear red shoes and clothing.”
Registra­tion for the walk is $25 for adults, $15 for students, and free for ages 5 and under. Pet registration is $10 per dog. Walkers who pre-register will receive a T-shirt if registered by Friday, April 8. T-shirts will be available for a $10 additional fee for those who register at the event. Registration forms are available at www.safenetservices.org or by calling Safenet at 918-341-1424.

Safenet Services strives to create a healthy, support environment for women and families healing from the consequences of domestic violence and sexual assault by offering free and confidential services for victims residing in Rogers and Mayes counties. Services offered include our 24 hour crisis line, 35-bed domestic abuse shelter, counseling and parenting education, protective order assistance, and victim advocacy.

For more information, call Brown at (918) 341-1424 or email Emily@safenetservices.org.
To find out more about the nationwide Walk a Mile in her Shoes initiative, visit www.walkamileinhershoes.org.