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How do women walk in these things?

It is a question men often ask themselves whenever they see a woman walking in high heeled shoes.

It is also a question they will be able to answer themselves when they participate in this year’s May 10 Walk-A-Mile in Her Shoes event in the Freson Bros. parking lot. Festivities start at 11 a.m. and go to 1 p.m.

The event was created in 2001 by Frank Baird when he suggested to the Valley Trauma Center in southern California that they hold a men’s march in an effort to raise awareness about violence issues against women. Baird also wanted to increase the number of opportunities for men to contribute to ending sexualized violence.

Since that first year when a small group of men donned heels in a local park, Walk a Mile has evolved to become a mass movement with events held every year in every part of the globe, including Barrhead.

This year’s event is a Fundraiser for Barrhead and District Family Community Support Services (FCSS) Thrive program, a violence and relationship abuse prevention initiative.

Thrive mentor Cheri Jantz, said this year’s event will feature the traditional Walk-A-Mile competition, where men have to don a women’s high heel shoes while completing an obstacle course, a massage and reflexology tent, a hot dog barbecue and entertainment, in the form of an all men’s band from the Ripple Connection Support Centre (RCSC).

“The community’s been just so supportive of the event and the Thrive program,” she said, noting two of this year’s events activities, massage tent and the RCSC came from members of the public approaching her and just asking how they could become involved.

As for the competition, she said she did not know what it would look like, noting the course is being designed by Alberta Health Services addiction counsellor and regular Walk-A-Mile competitor Darin Flemmer.

“I’m not sure if he is trying to give himself a bit of an advantage,” Jantz joked.

She added without the public’s support at fundraisers such as this the program wouldn’t be able to continue.

Barrhead’s FCSS is a stand-alone, not-for-profit organization and they, like all other Alberta FCSS organizations, receive funding through provincial and municipal government grants in an 80-20 per cent split, with the province being responsible for the larger portion.

However, this funding can only be used for programs of a preventative nature and Thrive is more of a reactionary program in its clients seek help after suffering abuse, which is why the FCSS had to seek out alternative funding for the program.

Initially, funding came from the province through a safe communities innovation fund (SCIF) grant in 2011, which rolled over into a family communities safe grant. That latter expired in March 2018 and since then the program has continued partly through contributions from the Rotary Club and Town of Barrhead of $15,000 each as well as its own fundraising efforts.

Jantz said to her knowledge, FCSS the province has not come up with a replacement grant, and suspects with the changeover in government it will be some time before they know if the province will come up with an alternative funding model.

“That’s why we appreciate the support we get from the community,” she said.

For men want to take part in the Walk-A-Mile competition pledge forms are available at the Barrhead and District FCSS office (5115 45 Street ) or just drop by the Freson Bros. parking lot between 11 a.m. and about 11:45 a.m. to register in person. The competition begins at noon.