‘Girls’ just want to have fun
Women and Children’s Shelter, CCSVI foundation hosting Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event
Men dressing as women is just funny.
Just ask Dame Edna.
When they have to perform a feat in women's gear, it just gets better.
Members of both the Women and Children's Shelter and the Chronic Cerebral Spinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI) foundation have both taken a walk on the wild side by asking area men to slip onsome heels to raise funds for their causes.
"You can't really understand another person's experience until you've walked a mile in their shoes," said Heather Croft, organizer of the event for the shelter.
The Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event asks men to literally walk one mile in women's high-heeled shoes. As women know, it's not easy walking in high-heels, but it's a fun event, and more importantly, it gets people talking about something that's really difficult to talk about — violence against their sisters, aunts, girl-friends or daughters.
By focusing on the positive aspect of a community coming together around this topic, the walk strives to empower individuals to take a stand against violence against women.
The fundraising event for the Women and Children's Shelter is being held Sunday, Oct. 16 at Heritage Park at noon, with registration, shoe fitting — as well as team pictures — between 11 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.
There will be prizes for the top individual, top team, most spirited walker, as well as the much coveted 'Dude looks like a lady' prize.
Last year, more than 300 walks were held across the country and tens of thousand of men wore high-heeled shoes as a symbolic gesture to walk in solidarity with women.
"It's a great way to let the community know you care about the females in your life and are willing to take a stand against violence," said Croft.
The CCSVI event supports the liberation therapy for multiple sclerosis patients discovered by Dr. Paolo Zamboni, a former vascular surgeon from Italy, who found that opening the veins allowed for better blood flow and less iron deposits in the brains of those suffering with MS.
Thus far, the local charity has helped send 48 people to the U.S. for the treatment that has yet been approved in Canada.
The Womanless Beauty Pageant is taking place Saturday, Oct. 13 at the ANAF Club in Barrie.
"We've got nine guys, from all walks of life, taking part in this," said Steve Garvie, president of the foundation.
The event asks the men to come up with a stage name, wear evening attire, don a bathing suit and perform during the talent show portion of the evening.
Proceeds raised will go towards helping more people with MS travel for the liberation therapy.
For more information on the Womanless Beauty Pageant, call CCSVI at 705-279-2333, or for more information on the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event, visit www.barrieshelter.com.
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