Want to Know How She Feels?

Gleichen – When you have a tough topic to talk about it is probably better to tackle it straight on. The volunteers at the Strathmore Regional Victim Services Society (SRVSS) face tough topics every day and make a difference to those who they help.
Raising awareness of sexual assault is vital. It’s not a pleasant topic to discuss, but talking about the issue is the only way to help people realize that burying our collective heads in the sand and attempting to wish it away will not make it so. Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® endeavors to raise awareness of the issue while having some fun at the same time.
On Wednesday May 22nd, the Strathmore Regional Victim Services Society is hosting its first-ever Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® event in Gleichen, Alberta. MEN wear red high heeled shoes and walk 1 mile to draw attention to this important topic. The event was the brainchild of Frank Baird and in 2001, the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® event was witnessed by thousands of men donning red high heeled shoes and walking, wobbling and tottering their way for a mile. And so their short journey initiated raising awareness, spirits and money in support of this important issue.
Some staggering statistics are found that 1 in every 17 Canadian women is raped at some point in her life, 80% of assaults occur in the victim’s home, 70% are perpetrated by someone who knows the victim and 62% of victims are physically attacked during the course of a sexual assault. A sexual assault will affect the victim and those who care about them for weeks, months and years after the incident has occurred.
The Men’s march to stop sexual assault and gender violence starts at 1:00 PM at the Gleichen & District Community Centre at 204 – 3rd Avenue, in Gleichen. There is a $30 registration fee for the event. This fee provides you with a pair of high-heeled red shoes for the walk, a T-shirt and a BBQ at the end of the walk. Walkers are requested to ask friends, family and co-workers to sponsor them for the walk. The pledge sheet can be accessed and printed from the website.
To register as a walker or for further information, please go to www.gleichen-walkamileinhershoes.com or contact Lesley Hering @ 403-934-6552 or email her at lesley.hering@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.