To raise awareness of sexual assault, YWCA Hawaii Island is hosting the sixth annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser starting at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 22 at the YWCA Ululani Street campus.
Hawaii County Prosecuting Attorney Mitch Roth and radio personality Darrin “DC” Carlson will lead the walk, which is open to men, women and children.
The goal is to raise $25,000 for the YWCA Hawaii Island Sexual Assault Support Services program, the only 24-hour, seven-days a week rape crisis center for the island. SASS services are free and include crisis counseling, therapy for assault survivors and their families, forensic evidence collection and violence prevention education for schools and the community.
“October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so Walk a Mile is a chance for men to literally walk in women’s shoes,” said Kathleen McGilvray, CEO of YWCA Hawaii Island. “It’s also an opportunity to call for an end to sex assault, rape and gender violence in our community.
“Sadly, nearly 50 percent of our SASS clients are 18 and younger. Every dollar raised will be used to help survivors address and move through the trauma of sex assault.”
In 2015, SASS responded to more than 2,441 crisis and support calls from survivors and their families, opened 329 cases, provided 1,929 hours of therapy and performed 50 sexual assault forensic medical exams, McGilvray said.
Event participants are asked to report to the kick-off site (145 Ululani St.) by 7:30 a.m. to register, select shoes and warm up for the walk. Walkers can wear decorated shoes for the judges’ choice contest.
An awards ceremony will take place after the walk at 9:30 a.m. All participants must complete an entry form and submit a $25 registration fee.
Those interested in participating in the walk — individually or as a team — or being an event sponsor should contact Events@YWCAHawaiiIsland.org or call the YWCA office at 935-7141, ext 111.
The YWCA of Hawaii Island is a nonprofit membership organization whose mission is the elimination of racism and empowerment of women.
Established in 1919, the organization offers myriad services and programs, including a nationally accredited preschool, a Teen Court for Hawaii Island and a home visitation program to prevent child abuse and neglect for keiki ages 0-3 in all of East Hawaii.
