The idiom is old and familiar: “Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes.” As children, it’s innocently taken quite literally while thinking about the array of different shoes people wore: how much of a difference would it really make to walk in cowboy boots rather than stiletto heels? Of course, with age comes wisdom, and one realizes that at its core, this age old saying is a simple reminder to practice empathy rather than judgement.
Our YWCA WALK A MILE IN HER SHOES® event takes the playful spirit and imagination from those youthful thoughts and combines it with the compassion of adulthood. It offers an opportunity for everyone to raise awareness in our community about the serious causes and effects of domestic violence. At the same time, the event encourages fundraising which will allow us to continue to offer critical support services to women, children, and families experiencing domestic violence and trauma.
We are so excited to be celebrating our 10th anniversary of Walk a Mile in Edmonton this year. We are also entirely appreciative of all the support we’ve received over the years – we have raised over $1 million since we introduced this entertaining walk to the Edmonton community. However, violence is still an issue and the need for support is still great:
- 1 in 5 Alberta men have witnessed a woman being abused.
- 7,987 domestic violence calls were made to Edmonton Police in 2018.
- 27,000 Alberta women and children seek shelter from domestic violence each year.
YWCA WALK A MILE IN HER SHOES® asks participants to walk a lap in women’s shoes. Strut your stuff in high heels or other fun footwear while raising money and awareness in support of YWCA Edmonton and our domestic violence prevention and recovery programs. Heels are provided (yes, we have your size), or wear your own favourite fabulous footwear. It may not be easy walking in these shoes, but we promise it will be memorable. Just as walking in the shoes may at times be difficult and uncomfortable, so can talking about domestic violence.
Your participation in this year’s event will have a powerful and lasting impact on helping women and families take steps away from domestic violence. Please join us on September 11, 2019, and help us get the community talking and learning about how to support survivors of domestic violence.
To register, donate, or volunteer: WalkAMileEdmonton.org
