Walk a Mile in Her Shoes to run May 28 in Port Elgin

An ever-increasing number of men has joined the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® campaign to speak out against rape, sexual assault, and gender violence towards women.

The annual event, slated for Sunday, May 28, in Port Elgin, provides a unique opportunity to bring attention to a very serious subject, raise money for Women’s House Serving Bruce and Grey, and be part of an international movement to end violence against women.

One in every four women is abused. That means someone you know or care about, has been, or may become, a victim of abuse. It may be your mother, your sister, your friend, one of your employees, or your daughter. Seventy-five per cent of Canadian men feel it is important to speak out against gender-based violence. Many are doing so through the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®, not just talking the talk, but walking the walk in red high-heeled shoes.

Women’s House operates a shelter for abused women and their children, a transition program that supports women as they transition back to the community from the shelter, a second-stage housing program that provides women with one year of rent-geared-to-income housing, an outreach counselling program, a child witness counselling program, and sexual assault services program.

Last year, alone, Women’s House supported 652 women and 113 children, and responded to 13,047 crisis and support calls. Money raised from Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® helps to ensure that the current levels of service provided are maintained in the community, free of charge.

Women’s House encourages all men in the community to participate in the walk. Call 519-396-9814, Ext. 227 to register. You will find links on the Women's House website, www.whsbg.on.ca, to the walker’s form and the pledge sheet. Participants fill out the walker’s form, for themselves as individuals or for their team, and send to bcadmin@whsbg.on.ca.  The next step is to start collecting pledges and having great conversations about how you will end violence against women!

The walk for Women’s House runs Sunday, May 28, beginning at 1 p.m. at the Queen’s Bar and Grill in Port Elgin, and marching proudly up and down Goderich Street. Check-in begins at Noon.