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From black flats to pink high heeled shoes, a parade of men and woman will be strutting their stuff across the DeSales campus, as part of the national "Walk A Mile in Her Shoes: The Men's March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault and Gender Violence" campaign at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 13.
The event is open to members of the DeSales community, as well as the community at large. Proceeds will benefit the Lehigh Valley Hospital's Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFE) and Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley. (Note: Registration info. follows below.)
The DeSales PACE (Peers Advising Counseling Educating) organization will host the walk to promote awareness for the prevention of sexual assault and to help minimize the potential for sexual violence by improving gender relationships through men gaining an appreciation and greater understanding for female experiences.
Registration will begin at 3:30 p.m. in the DeSales University Center, followed by the walk at 4:15 p.m. Refreshments will be provided at the conclusion of the walk. At 5:00 p.m., PACE will give a presentation on sexual assault in the DeSales University Center. A minimum registration donation to participate is $20 per person.
Early registration will be taken during lunch and dinner hours in the DeSales University Center now through April 12. Day of registration is also accepted but t-shirts are not guaranteed at this point.
The walk will be done on the DeSales University campus, starting at the University Center, passing by the soccer field, through the McShea Student Union building, past Trexler Library and ending where it started, at the University Center.
Male participants are asked to walk one mile in women's high heeled shoes (flats, sandals, and flip flops also are permitted). They will receive shoes to wear but are asked to bring their own, if possible. Women must wear their own shoes. Free t-shirts will be given out before the walk.
PACE has requested that community businesses or individuals form teams to raise money for this event. While the event is open to both men and woman, PACE encourages teams to represent as many men as possible.
"Walk a Mile in Her Shoes," a national event, was started by Frank Baird in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valley, California, in 2001. The intent of the first walk was to raise awareness and funds for rape crisis centers. The main goal of the organization is to stop rape, sexual assault and gender violence. Since the first walk in 2001, there have been over a hundred walks that have taken place nationwide.
DeSales University's PACE team, established in May 2004, consists of eight certified students who assist in peer counseling on campus and talk with other students on issues such as alcohol, sexual assault, relationships, time management and health / social education. They also work with high school, middle school and elementary school students to address a variety of topics.
For more information on "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" and the DeSales University's PACE team, please contact Michael Jaskelewicz at mj7104@desales.edu or Caitlin Scott at cs3395@desales.edu or by calling the PACE office at (610)282-1100, ext. 7223.
Press Release: DeSales Hosts "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" to Benefit Local Charities, Tues., April 13 | Posted on: 4/1/2010
For more info:
Tom McNamara, Executive Director of Communications
DeSales University | 2255 Station Avenue | Center Valley, PA 18034
610.282.1100 x1219 | Tom.McNamara@desales.edu |
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