COPE is calling on the men of Galway to take a stand against domestic violence by donning women’s high heels and taking part in a sponsored walk for the charity.
The fun event, which will see men tottering through the city streets in their finest footwear, aims to draw attention to the very serious issue of domestic violence against women, and to raise funds for COPE’s Waterside House, the only domestic violence refuge for women and children in Galway.
Walk a Mile In Her Shoes will take place on Saturday September 24 at 2pm. The walk will commence in Eyre Square and participants will walk down Shop Street as far as Cross Street, then up Quay Street and back to Eyre Square, with one loop around the Square to the finish.
“This is our first time doing this event; we saw the idea in America and thought it would be a great fun way to involve men in speaking out against the issue of domestic violence,” said Fintan Maher of COPE Galway. “We are hoping that the men of Galway will be brave enough to don a pair of ladies’ high heel shoes and that others will reward their bravery by sponsoring them for doing so. While the event is targeted at men and getting them to experience what it is like to walk in high heels, it is open to their friends and families to participate also.”
COPE Galway will provide the shoes on the day. People need to register in advance and they will be sent a registration pack including sponsorship forms. All participants are asked to raise a minimum of €50 which will cover the cost of the shoes and staging the event.
To register for Walk a Mile in Her Shoes contact Pamela on (091 ) 778750, email fundraising @copegalway.ie, or visit www.copegalway.ie All funds raised from this event will go to Waterside House, COPE’s refuge for women and children experiencing domestic violence. In the past 12 months the refuge accommodated 142 women and their 169 children. In the same period the refuge was unable to accommodate 262 women and their 486 children, and these were offered referral to other refuges, the nearest of which is in Athlone.
