Schuylkill County men once again kicked off their shoes and strapped on some high heels Thursday night for the third annual Walk A Mile In Her Shoes.
The annual event at Humane Fire Company, Pottsville, benefits the Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center of Schuylkill County and is meant to raise awareness about the serious effects of sexual violence.
Jenny Murphy-Shifflet, president and CEO of SARCC, said the organization has been in the county since 2009 and in that time, it has seen about 1,800 men, women and children who have been victims of sexual violence.
"This is a fun event for people to come together and say that they are not going to tolerate violence in their community," she said. "What's important is it gives an opportunity for men to take a stand against sexual violence because a majority of men in our community do not hurt others. We want to see men as part of the solution, not the problem."
While Murphy-Shifflet said SARCC is hoping to raise $9,000 to $10,000. According to Republican-Herald archives, the organization raised $9,000 during its first walk.
All of the funds raised from the event stay with SARCC in Schuylkill County to help victims of sexual violence.
To maintain those services, Murphy-Shifflet said the organization does fundraising, such as Thursday night's event.
"There's some pretty amazing shoes here and in those shoes are some pretty amazing men who are sure of themselves and what they want to do in this community," she said.
Prior to the event, there were 45 men registered and there ended up being 86 men walking in women's shoes.
Wearing an assortment of shoes - from red knee-high boots to leopard-skin shoes with fish in the heels - the men were of all ages. They were encouraged to bring their own high heels, although there were shoes available to borrow.
About 5:30 p.m. and led by a fire truck, the men left the fire company, heading to Centre Street, then Market Street and eventually back to Humane Fire Company.
Among the men participating was Jerry Labooty, owner of The Greystone Restaurant, Pottsville, who was walking for the third year.
"I believe in SARCC and I'll walk every year," Labooty said. "SARCC is important to Schuylkill county and Lebanon County and so is our mission."
Also participating were three men from McCann School of Business and Technology - Joel Whitehouse, Pine Grove, Mike O'Brien, Lake Wynonah, and Joe Ackell, Frackville.
Whitehouse and O'Brien participated twice before, while it was Ackell's first walk in women's shoes.
All said that they participated because it's a great cause for which they helped raise a lot of money.
"We have them (SARCC) as speakers at our school to make students aware of the resources that are out there for them," Whitehouse said.
"The hills were a little difficult but we can deal with that," Ackell said.
Matthew Digilio, originally of Lansford, who now lives in Spokane, Wash., was dressed as Supergirl for the event and said that he participated to help raise awareness in the community and because he works for Concur New Media, which helped promote the event.
"It was tougher than I thought," Digilio said. "It was my first time in heels."
County Commissioner Gary J. Hess was participating for the third time and said that the event helps make people aware that sexual violence does goes on in the community, but that there is help and not to be afraid if it does happen.
"More people need to get involved in this great community walk because it definitely is an issue, and we need this to say, 'No more,' " Hess said.