Supporting victims of violence

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CONSORT, Alta. — Some men padded their candy apple red high heel shoes with sockettes or sports socks. One ran a few steps, while another fell far behind the group.

However, all wobbled their way along the one mile route through Consort.

They were participating in the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event June 24 to increase awareness of violence against women and raise money to support victims.

None had experience with the tippy shoes, so there were few strategies for staying atop the four inch high heels.

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“I’m going to try to go slow and not twist an ankle,” said Calvin Ward, the village’s deputy mayor.

RCMP Const. Jim Countryman had the slowest pace but was committed to finishing and supporting women and families.

“It’s important work we do initially dealing with things, but after, it’s follow-up support they need. It doesn’t just end when we throw (abusers) in jail,” he said.

Mario Caron, who works at the seniors lodge where the walk began, agreed it’s important to help society’s most vulnerable.

“It’s just a small step for me to help people,” he said.

The region has seen similar walks this spring in Castor and Stettler, where $13,000 was raised, and the next one is scheduled for Coronation on July 8.

Judilonne Beebe of the Association of Communities Against Abuse said the money raised in Consort, totalling about $1,900, will go toward weekly counselling sessions for victims of domestic violence and childhood sexual abuse.

The service is provided free of charge by the non-profit organization, which accesses eight therapists in the district.

“We work with victims from three to 78,” she said.

The group is also active in abuse awareness and education in schools, which includes healthy dating relationships and sexual assault prevention strategies.

“So kids understand what they are and where they can go for help,” said Beebe.

Frank Baird created the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes in 2001 with a small group of men in a park, and it has since grown into a worldwide movement.

It has raised millions of dollars for rape crisis centres, domestic violence shelters and violence education, prevention and remediation programs.