And they're off! Participants in the Walk A Mile In Her Shoes 2021 event start their four laps around the parking lot at Bower Place, equal to one mile. (rdnewsNOW/Jordan Davidson)

By Jordan Davidson (Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow)

Red Heels for donations

Walk A Mile in Her Shoes event puts red heels to pavement

Sep 15, 2021 | 2:59 PM

The good people down at The Outreach Centre in Red Deer were thrilled to be able to host the 10th annual Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event in-person this year, after the pandemic made the 2020 event a virtual walk.

Starting around 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, participants swapped out their runners for a pair of red high heels in the west parking lot of Bower Place.

Organizers say the goal is to raise public awareness around domestic violence and fundraise for the many programs and services The Outreach Centre offers to the community.

Ian Wheeliker is the executive director and says the event is also about taking the lead to try and change peoples’ attitudes and behavior around sexual and domestic violence.

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“It’s a way for men to acknowledge that women’s experience in the community and sometimes in family can be very painful and very different.”

He says the point of getting men to walk a mile in high heels, many for the first time, is to get them to think about the trauma domestic violence victims suffer through on a daily basis as they take each painful step.

“It’s the analogy of “walk a mile in a woman’s shoes” and think about what women experiencing sexual and domestic violence go through, and that includes all people who identify as women as well.”

He says last year they raised around $20,000, which is about average. By Wednesday afternoon, the fundraising total on their website was sitting at $19,491.

Officials note there were a number of participants who had raised donations through corporate competitions and friendly competition. Some members of the Central Alberta Buccaneers were also on hand, as well as members of the Blackfalds Bulldogs junior A hockey team who were handing out water bottles and cheering people on.

To make a donation, or to find out more about the services the Outreach Centre provides, visit theoutreachcentre.org.