There is an old saying: “You can’t really understand another person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” September 24, Wilmington will put this to the test as they host the Fourth Annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event downtown.

According to the Domestic Abuse Shelter, “One out of three women and one out of six men will be raped in their lifetimes.” However, most victims feel at blame or ashamed of the incident and fail to report it for months or sometimes years.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is an event that that benefits the Rape Crisis Center of Coastal Horizons Center, Inc. Rape Prevention Education Program in the Cape Fear Area.  Their goal is to bring awareness and to stop rape, sexual assault and gender violence.

Nationally over 10 thousand men have worn heels to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to support local rape crisis services and domestic violence shelters.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is a community and family event, and men are encouraged to wear high heels but it is not required for participation. Many simply choose to carry or wear a pair of their spouse or children’s shoes around their neck.

The event is an excellent preventive education, for it helps men better understand and appreciate women’s experiences, thus changing perspectives, helping improve gender relationships and decreasing the potential for violence.

Brad Duncan is Chief of Police in London and a past participant of the event, which has gone international over the years. “Participation in the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event is an important statement that men can make in terms of supporting an end to violence against women. As caring grandfathers, fathers, husbands, partners and sons, we have a deep and abiding respect for women and our presence at the Walk clearly demonstrates that we will not tolerate sexual and gender violence,” said Duncan.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. with check-in starting at 8:00 a.m. at Elijah’s Riverside Deck in downtown Wilmington. Individual registration is $20, but it is $15 a person for a group of five or more. Walkers are encouraged to register early.