If not for the clip-clopping of their high heels on the pavement, they would have looked mighty manly strutting down Main Street.
But that didn’t seem to bother the 26 participants in last week’s Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event.
The good-natured fundraiser generated dollars for the Women’s Resource Centre’s Safe Haven along with awareness of sexual assault and other forms of violence against women.
“A lot of people aren’t comfortable talking about these kinds of things, so when you add humour…it makes them take down their guard a little bit and [be] open to hearing the message,” said Colleen Arnold, executive director of the centre. “So the humour brings a lot more participants, but the message still gets out there.”
Donning red four-inch high heels, each of the participants collected pledges to walk from Pioneer Square down Main Street before looping onto Hapnot Street and back to Pioneer.
The men appeared clumsy at times, but cordial, having earlier been taught how to fall gracefully if they lost their balance. Dozens of onlookers smiled, giggled and took video.
Aside from their fancy footwear, the walkers waved placards bearing messages such as “Put Yourself In Her Shoes” and “Rape Hurts All Of Us.”
In the end the June 30 walk raised just over $7,500 for the Safe Haven, which provides a secure living quarters for women and children escaping violent situations. Flin Flon city councilor Guy (Beastie) Rideout won the award for having fundraised the most money.
In its fifth year, the annual walk enjoyed a revitalization in 2016, doubling the participation it has garnered in recent years.
“Lots of new faces, young faces – it was nice to see,” Arnold said.
Since Walk A Mile In Her Shoes began in 2012, the event has brought in about $38,000 for the Safe Haven, which operates exclusively on fundraisers and donations.
