Ever have the urge to try and make a difference for raped women throughout the world? Ever want to try and reach out to those women that have been beaten or even raped by thoughtless men? Now is your chance.
The Rape Crisis Intervention Service of Carroll County or RCIS is hosting a Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event here in Westminster. The RCIS has hosted this event here in Westminster for the past five years, according to the Center for Experience and Opportunity (CEO) employee, Janice A. Kispert.
According to Kispert, there is always a large turnout of McDaniel students. This is mainly due to the football coach signing up the entire McDaniel football team, requiring them to participate, but some of the Campus Safety officers and students of McDaniel College participate as well. Kispert says she first stumbled upon the idea for the Walk A Mile In Her Shoes by searching on the Internet and finding the International Men’s March To Stop Rape, Sexual Assault and Gender Violence, which originally came up with the idea for the Walk A Mile In Her shoes event.
The event is directed more towards male participation but everyone is welcome to attend. The purpose of the walk is for people to walk a mile while wearing high heels. The high heels signify the power of a woman and give people the opportunity to experience what it is like in a woman’s shoes.
People who wish to participate in the event should sign up online at walkamilecc.org so that they can begin to reach out to people in an attempt to raise money. There are prizes for those who raise the most money; there is an individual prize for the person who raises over $1000. Anyone who raises over $1000 will take part in a drawing for a chance to win a $400 watch donated by a local jewelry store here in Westminster.
There is also a prize for the group who raises the most money. Last year’s prize was a trophy, which was awarded to McDaniel College for raising the most money. McDaniel raised over $4000 in last year’s walk.
Kispert said there was a total of just over 200 people last year, including McDaniel students and that the organization is close to matching that same amount this year. The walk is held on the second Saturday of April every year.
For more information about the event or to register for the walk, go to walkamilecc.org or on Saturday morning go to Dutter Park at 10 a.m. to register. The walk begins at 11 a.m.
