Join the march on April 27 and sign up to “Walk A Mile in Her Shoes®” to benefit The Sexual Assault/Spouse Abuse Resource Center (SARC).
Although male participants might draw the most stares from onlookers, women and children of all ages are invited to wear their own pair of high heels to participate in SARC’s 11th Annual Walk A Mile in Her Shoes®: International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence, taking place on Saturday, April 27, 2019.
The event is held annually in April to coincide with Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the statistics in Maryland are startling: a National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey found Maryland women have the third highest lifetime prevalence of sexual violence other than rape, totaling an estimated number of 1,248,000 women, about 54.9 percent of the female population in the state.
Proceeds from the event go to benefit SARC (The Sexual Assault/Spouse Abuse Resource Center), the only full-service domestic violence and sexual assault agency in Harford County. The center is a comprehensive victim services program that provides resources to primary and secondary victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, dating violence, child abuse and stalking in Harford County, Maryland. Fundraisers such as Walk-A-Mile provide critical funding to continue providing their essential services which are offered free of charge. Last year, SARC raised more than $64,000 in donations to support the stand against sexual violence.
SARC’s 2019 Walk A Mile in Her Shoes® event begins at 9:30 a.m. with onsite registration, shoe fitting, music, refreshments, games and activities for the whole family. At 10:35 a.m., SARC CEO Luisa Caiazzo and Honorary Event Chair Harford County Executive Barry Glassman will make opening remarks and present fundraising awards to top teams and individuals. The walk steps off at 11 a.m., starting and finishing at Black Eyed Suzie’s restaurant. Black Eyed Suzie’s is opening early for breakfast at 9 a.m. with breakfast sandwiches and full-service dining beginning at 10 a.m., with a portion of proceeds benefiting SARC.
Walk A Mile sponsors to-date include: Harford Mutual Insurance; Harford County Government, Ports America Chesapeake, Decisive Data Systems; Saiontz & Kirk, P.A.; Saxon’s Diamond Centers; APGFCU; Innovative Insurance Solutions; WSMT Insurance; Chesapeake Employer’s Insurance; Elegant Restoration; Harford Bank; Jen Snyder Photography; and Bill Fritz & Sons DJ.
To register to walk or to sponsor a walker, visit https://secure.qgiv.com/event/sarcwalkamile2019 or email [email protected].
Since 1978, SARC has provided hope and resources to victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, and stalking. Services include a 24 hour-helpline, counseling, legal representation, a confidential safe house, and community outreach and education.
