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Walk a Mile in Her Shoes slated for Saturday

T-R FILE PHOTO The annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes walk around downtown Marshalltown will be held Saturday, May 20 at the Courthouse Lawn. Registration and a White Ribbon Campaign ceremony will begin at 4 p.m., with the walk starting at 6 p.m. Men are asked to wear high-heeled shoes for the walk. Money raised benefits ACCESS.

It’s hard to understand another person’s point of view until you have “walked a mile in their shoes.”

Thus is the thought process behind the annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, a national initiative with the goal of raising awareness about the plight of those affected by sexual assault, abuse and domestic violence.

On the local level, a public Walk A Mile in Her Shoes event will take place Saturday at the Courthouse Square, whereby male participants will don high-heeled shoes and literally “walk a mile in her shoes” around the downtown area, to show solidarity in the fight against gender-based violence.

New to this year’s event will be the inclusion of a special White Ribbon Campaign ceremony, starting at 4 p.m.

“It’s a way for men to pledge their commitment to ending sexual assault in their communities,” said Marshall County Sheriff’s Deputy, D.L. Dean, the coordinator of the event.

There will also be guest speakers.

The event is sponsored by the FARST Foundation (Friends Actively Recreating to Support Transformation), the Full Tilt Riders Motorcycle Club of Central Iowa, and the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity (Eta Rho Sigma chapter).

Registration for the walk costs $10; students may walk free of charge. Male participants are asked to wear women’s shoes, with a minimum of a two inch heel. It is recommended to wear women’s shoes a size and a half bigger than what one wears in a men’s shoe. T-shirts cost $15. Female participants do not need to wear high-heeled shoes. Attendees are encouraged to bring signs to carry while they walk and to wear matching team outfits. Walkers are also asked to raise funds and personalize their own fundraising campaigns for the cause.

People may register at 4 p.m. the day of the walk; by mail: FARST Foundation, P.O. Box 1794, Marshalltown; or at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/walk-a-mile-in-her-shoes-marshalltown-registration-33806102964

Money raised will benefit ACCESS (Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support).

Awards will be given out to teams that: raise the most in donations, have the most registered walkers, and display the most spirit. Individuals will win for: who raises the most in donations, who has the best strut, and who has the best decorated shoes. An award will also be given to the student who raises the most donations.

A bike show will not be held this year, out of respect for BACA’s 100-mile ride the same day (Bikers Against Child Abuse).

“We support their ride and some of their members will be at our event,” Dean said.

To learn more, contact Dean at: 641-485-2959, and visit: www.walkamileinhershoes.org

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Contact Sara Jordan-Heintz at 641-753-6611 or sjordan@timesrepublican.com

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