This year’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event Sept. 8 was a top earner in the walk’s seven years.
After the 22 men teetered across the highway and back to the riverfront gazebo, Tamara Yurchak, secretary of the Athabasca and Area Prevention of Relationship Abuse Action Committee (PRAAC), announced the fundraised amount beat the 2015 record.
The goal was to make at least $15,000 and the actual amount far surpassed that, at $22,707. In the six years previous, a total of $69,000 has been raised.
“It was awesome – we’re so happy. We weren’t expecting the numbers that we got,” Yurchak said. “In 2015, we thought we hit the maximum, then when the numbers came in we had to double check the numbers.”
Yurchak added the number of men walking was relatively average, but the friendly challenge between Dave Tipton and Jon LeMessurier really helped boost the numbers this year. The two men bet that the lower earner would have to swim across Long Lake. Tipton won the day, pulling in a whopping $7,029.
Walk a Mile In Her Shoes provides funds for the Thrive program, which locally supports victims of relationship abuse. Walk a Mile in Her Shoes not only raises money, but also raises awareness of sexualized violence against women.
After a comical stretching session with LeMessurier and the chicken dance song, the men headed off on their walk, sporting flashy red pumps, stilettos and lace up boots.
The men got a few dog whistles from passing vehicles, and on their way back to the gazebo, passed the sobering display of shoes representing everyone the Thrive program has supported over the years.
LeMessurier it was great to see the record for fundraising broken.
“It’s an important event that people need to know it is a serious issue, and it’s cool to be able to come out and fundraise and showcase it is a need in this community and other places,” he said.
Kelly Lynn Spafford, manager of Community Action for Healthy Relationships, said that the fundraising goal was beat means the community is showing support of the event.
“The very practical aspect is the funds can be used to provide more services locally,” Spafford said. “We are a non-profit; there’s no long term guarantee in sustainable funds, so an event like this really does come right back into staffing, program resources and travel dollars so we can service the community better and guarantee some level of service for our community in the future.”
She added it is heart warming to see the community support Walk a Mile every year, and with each year the vent becomes a little larger, and promotes greater awareness.
