A Rapid City advocacy group called Working Against Violence is holding its third annual Walk A Mile In Her Shoes fundraiser. The event is designed to raise awareness of sexual and domestic violence in South Dakota.
The Walk A Mile In Her Shoes fundraiser may raise a few eyebrows at first glance - the sight of dozens of men walking around Memorial Park in Rapid City in bright red high heels isn’t common.
Rapid City’s WAVI Development Director Mallory Heutzenroeder says men are donning red high heel shoes as a bold visual statement to show their support for victims of sexual and domestic violence.
Heutzenroeder says the event literally and figuratively puts men in women’s shoes.
“The event itself is a really kind of fun thing, but the larger message is that domestic violence and sexual assault are community issues that require an entire community to come together to solve them. It’s not just about women, even though those are the primary victims of these crimes, it’s also about getting men to stand up and say I don’t want to see this in my community anymore and I don’t want this to happen to anybody,” says Heutzenroeder.
Heutzenroeder says many male participants say they didn’t realize sexual and domestic violence are prevalent in South Dakota.
“Nationally one in four women have been the victim of domestic violence and one in five have been the victim of attempted or completed sexual assault and we have not seen a decline in the number of victims in our community in any recent years,” says Heutzenroeder.
This is the third year that the Walk A Mile In Her Shoes fundraiser has been held in Rapid City.
Heutzenroeder says prizes are awarded for best walk and best dance. She says there’s no need to go out and buy a pair - the bright red heels are provided for participants.
The Walk A Mile In Her Shoes fundraiser is being held at Memorial Park in Rapid City on Saturday, May 17. Registration begins at 11:00am.