3rd Annual “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” Heads to Whalers Village

[flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMlDftjLkCs /] By Wendy Osher

Maui takes another step toward domestic violence awareness this weekend during the third annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event, to be held this year at the Whaler’s Village in Kāʻanapali.

The West Maui Domestic Violence Task Force and Women Helping Women join forces for the event, scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014.

During the event, volunteers and community leaders take a pledge to help end domestic violence by participating in a walk to raise awareness for the cause.

In past years, organizers encouraged men to be leaders in the ongoing effort to prevent violence against women by asking them to walk a “mile” in women’s high-heeled shoes.

Participants in the 2011 “Walk a Mile In Her Shoes” event held at the UHMC campus. File photo courtesy UHMC.

“We are looking for the community to join us in our struggle to eliminate domestic and sexual violence, an epidemic that overwhelmingly victimizes women,” said West Maui Task Force volunteer Maria Terra in a joint press release announcement.

“There is an old saying: ‘You can’t really understand another person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in her shoes, so here’s your chance,” she said.

Firefighters on Maui say each of the last three recruit classes has a representative who has stepped up to coordinate a team to participate in this year’s event.

In recent years, participants have included men from the American Medical Response, the Prosecutors Office, County employees, and community leaders.

Organizers say that while the event is called “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,” participants will walk in a lap around the center stage area where there will be entertainment by Maui’s own Fred’s Garage, and prize giveaways.

A crowd gathers at the registration table to pick up their pumps, file photo 2011 by Katie McMillan.

Band member Ray Chin said, “Each member of Fred’s Garage is a husband and father of daughters and sons.”  He said the efforts and awareness raised by the event, “can help other families deal with domestic violence or educate a generation of young people on proper family values.”

The entry fee is $10 and includes a free t-shirt and raffle ticket.  High heels are provided by the nonprofit group Women Helping Women during event registration.

During previous years, event organizers said the goal is to “open up communication about sexual violence and to help men better understand and appreciate women’s experiences, and it also highlights the fact that sexual violence does not just affect women but also the men, family, and friends who care about them.”

***Video from 2011 event by Wendy Osher.