Walk A Mile In Her Shoes

For Immediate Release

Press contact: Jill Brown

717-572-7577

June 30, 2015

Men wanted to ‘Walk A Mile In Her Shoes’ in downtown Lancaster to support victim survivors of sexual assault

LANCASTER (PA) – YWCA Lancaster is inviting men to take a walk in women’s high heels to bring awareness to gender-based violence and to raise money for counseling services provided to victim survivors of sexual assault.

The YWCA Lancaster Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event will kick off on Friday, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. in Penn Square and will feature brave men who sign up to walk a designated one mile route in downtown Lancaster in high heels.

Men who register for the event at www.walkamileyw.org can set up a fundraising page and use the social media tools to encourage friends and family to sponsor them as a walker. Proceeds benefit YWCA Lancaster Sexual Assault Prevention and Counseling Center.

“What better way to capture people’s attention than to see Lancaster's businessmen, first responders, public officials and college students not-so-gracefully walking down the street in women’s high heels,” said Brian LaBorde, President of High Steel Industries and co-chair of the Walk A Mile In Her Shoes committee. “And that’s exactly the point. We want people to ask questions so we can spread the word about the important work the YW does to help victim survivors of sexual assault in Lancaster County.”

Money raised will provide free counseling and supportive services to victim survivors of sexual assault and their family members. In 2014, 664 survivors of sexual assault and abuse and their loved ones were served by the YWCA Lancaster's Sexual Assault Prevention and Counseling Center--28 percent of clients counseled were children.

“The specific counseling services that are provided to clients who have experienced sexual violence are at no cost to them, and we want to keep it that way,” said Lisa Cameron, YW’s Director of Counseling and Empowerment Services. “Our counseling is very specific: it is trauma focused and is empowerment specific so that we can effectively assist those who have experienced violence.”

A pre-party event will be held from 4 to 5:45 p.m. and post-party immediately after the walk at Tellus 360, 24 East King Street. All participants will be given two free admission bracelets to the after-party. And participants who raise over $500 will gain admission to the VIP area of the after party.

For more information or to register for the event, visit www.walkamileyw.org.

Price: $35.00