Belleville men take the pledge to Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

By Ashliegh Gehl

If the shoe fits, wear it.

That’s exactly what more than 70 Belleville men will be doing this Saturday when they slip into red high-heeled shoes.

It’s part of the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes campaign, a march giving men the chance to publicly stand against violence to women.

Connie Carson, director of the Three Oaks Foundation, says this inaugural march comes at the right time.

“It just seems timely for Belleville because of the things that have been going on in the last year or so, concerning violence and rape,” said Carson. “And we just feel our community needs to do whatever we can to prevent it.”

Men from various stripes and badges will be participating.

“Our policemen will be dressed up in their uniforms,” said Carson. “Our firemen will be dressed up in their uniforms. And everybody will be walking with red shoes on to support the cause.”

Awareness isn’t the only goal. Every man involved has been collecting pledges. Funds will be going to the Three Oaks Foundation, Belleville’s women’s shelter.

The Walk a Mile in Her Shoes campaign started in California and was created by Frank Baird in 2001. The goal is to help support local women’s shelters.

The Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event takes place Saturday morning at 8 a.m. with a garage sale at the Empire Square. Registration for the walk starts at 10 a.m. The actual walk starts at noon.