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Major Event Sponsors (donation of $150 or more)
History
As the old saying goes, "You can't fully understand someone's experiences until you walk a mile in their shoes." The mission of the Walk a Mile in her Shoes project is to co-create a united gender movement and promote the active involvement of men in helping to end sexualized violence. Frank Baird first proposed the idea of the Walk in 2001. The Men's March started out small and has grown each year since, with larger and larger crowds attending each march. Marches are held throughout the year in multiple locations across the country and overseas, benefitting a number of non-profit organizations that work to provide education, referrals, intervention, programs, and services around the issue of gender-based violence.
Background to the U of I's march
Last year's event - our first ever - took place on Women's Equality Day, August 26. Instead of requiring participants to register to walk a mile, we constructed an obstacle course, and asked men who were passing by to give it a try! No less than 50 men willingly strapped on a pair of high heels and walked the course!
This year, our goal is to use the Walk as a way of raising much-needed funding for 4 local organizations who work tirelessly to advocate for survivors of rape and abuse, and to educate the community on gender-based violence. The beneficiaries of the Walk are: 2009 March details
Date: Friday, October 2, 2009
Time: 12:00 noon (check-in 11:00 am)
Location: Dan O'Brien Track & Field Complex (behind the Kibbie Dome)
Fees: $10 for the walk, $15 with commemorative 2010 calendar
Registration
The online registration form is here. We will require all walkers to sign a liability waiver on-site in order to participate. Payment must be made at check-in on the day of the event. Please note: we regret that we are unable to accept credit cards at this time. CASH OR CHECK ONLY. Please make registration and pledge checks payable to: U of I Women's Center.
Rules for the March
- Only Male-Identified individuals may complete the Walk (although, we warmly invite women to attend in support!)
- No cat-calling, whistling, or jeering at those who participate.
- Please, no dressing in drag. This has the potential to refocus the event away from the intended purpose.
- No fighting over the 7-inch-heel red vinyl platform sandals.
Pledges
In order to raise maximum funds for the beneficiary organizations, participants are asked to do the walk as a sponsored event. Ask your family and friends to pledge a sum for your completion of the Walk! All proceeds will go towards financially assisting four very worthy local organizations who provide critically important services with the goal of helping to end gender-based violence.
Download a pledge sheet
Special 2010 calendars will be printed with photographs of the event, and will be on sale following the event for $10 each ($5 for Walk participants). Winners in the following categories will be invited to pose for an entire full-page spread in the calendar:
- Most team members in a group
- Most money raised (individual)
- Most money raised (group)
- Most outlandish footwear (please, no drag)
- Oldest participant
- Youngest participant
Shoes
The Women's Center has a limited number of pairs of women's shoes in large sizes available for loan on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants are responsible for bringing their own footwear. Any and all women's shoes are acceptable. High heels are recommended, although we realize that physical limitations or past injuries may preclude some participants from wearing heels. The following local retail businesses carry women's shoes in extra-large sizes:
Eclectica - 221 E. 3rd Street, Moscow, 208-892-9100
Payless Shoe Source - Palouse Empire Mall, Moscow, 208-882-9765
Payless Shoe Source - 1450 S. Grand Ave, Pullman, 509-332-3138
For more information, please contact us at 208-885-6616 or wcenter@uidaho.edu.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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