Dozens of clicking high heels were heard in downtown Cold Lake as men took part in the annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes.
Over 30 men donned the iconic red high heels for the cause, with everyone from city officials, to RCMP officers, and members of 4 Wing making their way down main street Cold Lake on Saturday, Sept. 28.
The third annual event, hosted by the Dr. Margaret Savage Crisis Centre (DMSCC), saw over $5,000 raised to go towards support programs that help fight domestic violence in the community.
Wobbling their way along Hwy. 28, the group was met with even more support by drivers honking their horns as they drove past.
Resource development coordinator with the DMSCC, Cindy Yang, was blown away with the number of participants, which grew significantly from less than 10 last year.
“I think we’re talking about this in the community, and these men are stepping up because they’re also recognizing the importance of it. They also want to support our agency, and support the women and children in our community,” she explained.
For the DMSCC, having men in public positions willing to stand behind their cause in such a visible way is a huge step in getting their message out.
“It’s because they have a lot more interactions with the public,” detailed Yang. “With them, if they’re having conversations, they might be able to lend their voice, or they might be able to say, ‘you know what? I actually know an agency.’ By having them come out, it helps with the visibility, starting that conversation, and spreading awareness in the community.”
Susan White, executive director for the centre, added this is the most support they’ve seen since the Walk a Mile began locally.
“These are frontline workers. To have them standing behind us recognizing what these women and children who come through our shelter are facing is huge,” she exclaimed.
The competition was tough this year to see who would win the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes top fundraiser award. With $1,500 raised, it was Cold Lake RCMP Sgt. Ryan Howrish who walked away with the honour.
“As a policeman for 18 years, I really see and recognize the need for an organization like the DMSCC. They provide women the tools and an opportunity to make change, and that’s what they’re looking for,” he said.
This was Howrish’s second year participating, and he endures the pain of walking in the heels to give back as much as he can.
“I’ve always been a strong supporter of the DMSCC. I’ve worked with them in the past, and I can’t think of a better organization to support. They change lives.”
Yang and White agreed they hope to see the event continue to grow, and raise as much awareness as they can about domestic violence in the community.
“We’re just so fortunate that the community has really bought in, and supported us as we’ve tried new things,” Yang noted.
