Men in High Heels Will Support Awareness of Sexual Assault

EVANSTON, IL - The fight against sexual assault and sexual abuse will continue this weekend when a group of men literally walk a mile in women’s shoes.

The “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event is in its third year in Evanston and will begin this Sunday, Oct. 2 at Centennial Park at 10 a.m. Men will walk one mile in a pair of red high heels that will be provided at the event.

The walk is put on by the Northwest Center Against Sexual Assault, a local non-profit organization that provides free services to those affected by sexual violence, and helps raise awareness to support “the millions of women who are subjected to horrific acts of sexual violence every year.”

“Because every two minutes someone in America is sexually assaulted…Because every year there are approximately 237,868 victims of sexual assault….Because you have a mother, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, or friend that has been or knows someone who has been sexually assaulted or abused,” the Northwest CASA wrote in a release promoting the event.

Register to walk here

Among the participants will be several members of the Evanston Police Department. At least five police officers are expected to be in attendance.

Evanston police spokesperson Joe Dugan said a big part of the reason the department participates in the event every year is that they have “first hand experience and have seen the long lasting effects on a victim that has been sexually abused or assaulted.”

EPD Officer Enjoli Daley, a Northwest CASA board member, has helped facilitate the department’s participation in the event ever since it began two years ago.

Anyone who isn’t able to walk is still encouraged to donate to the cause. So far, $4,525 has been raised for the walk with a goal of $15,000.

Photo: Northwest CASA