IT TAKES A REAL MAN TO WALK A MILE IN RED HEELSÂ
Luckily, Cambridge men of all ages were up for the fundraising challenge at noon on Wednesday, June 12th. Walk A Mile In Her Shoes is an event that happens annually in various Canadian communities to raise awareness and funds that support the YWCA, and the women’s and girls’ programs that they run. I’ve recently done some volunteer work for the Cambridge location, and was thrilled when they asked me to donate my photography skills and a framed prize photo to the event.
It really was a very positive experience, with no shortage of great photo ops! The pictures practically took themselves.
See for yourself!
Happy to ham it up for the camera during registration.
To Serve And Protect. In heels.
Signing in with YWCA staff and volunteers.
Participants registered their shoe size ahead of time, and organizers provided matching heels in the correct sizes.
Changing from his own shoes, into the trademark red heels that show support for our cause.
This gentleman came well prepared with his own customized fedora featuring sparkly red shoes.
So nice, I took his picture twice.
Making new friends during registration.
Life goes on, regardless of the red shoes for Arthur Gralec of Tiny Cakes.
Guess who?
Getting a feel for women’s shoes.
Some guys were very nonchalant about the whole affair!
Volunteers sign in the participants.
Darryl of 107.5 DAVE FM adds tape to his footwear to help secure them.
A helping hand.
Tape helps prevent blisters from shoes that are just a little too big.
Checking out his new kicks.
I think it’s a good look for him!
The start of a surprisingly long process to get all these guys to cross their legs for a photo.
There we go.
Father and son team Travis and Carson Albert.
This young man is wearing his mom’s old shoes secured with ribbons.
Love the random moment happening here for at least 4 or 5 different reasons.
Our tallest and our smallest walkers.
Our friends from Roger’s TV.
The Bennett Boys showing off their Walk A Mile shoes.
Team spirit from the Bennett Boys of Bennett GM in Cambridge.
Some of our top fundraisers, The Bennett Boys.
Ready to walk a mile for a good cause.
Showing off his ability to balance on one high heel.
Presenting, Walk A Mile, Cambridge, 2013!
Roger’s TV crew came dressed to impress.
No shortage of team spirit here!
Workin’ in for the camera.
The event took place over most people’s lunch hour. Shortly after noon, the square began to fill up.
Spectators filled the square in front of Cambridge City Hall on Dickson Street.
Sponsors for the 2013 Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event.
A few words for the media.
Final wardrobe adjustments for this spirited team.
“And to which team do you gentlemen belong?” “The Handsome Men’s Club.” “Oh, of course you do! Can I please take your photo?”
Answering some questions from our smallest walker about working for the Police.
Still smiling before the walk!
The square fills up as organizers prepare to kick off the event.
We’re just minutes away now!
The man with the camera is not only a walker, but also our wonderful web designer, Sanjeev of Jelly Triangle.
Gathering people’s attention for the opening remarks.
Ready to get the show on the road.
The Roger’s TV team were quite entertaining.
Welcoming all the 2013 walkers, and YWCA supporters that came out for Walk A Mile 2013. I believe this speech ended with the promise of a cold beer for the first walker to cross the finish line!
Volunteers listen to the short but sweet opening remarks about the event.
The Bennett Boys listen to the welcoming remarks made by event organizers.
Time to step up for women’s rights!
Preparing for the start of our mile long fundraiser.
And they’re off!
YWCA staff carry the Walk A Mile banner.
The socks really complete this guy’s look, don’t they? Nice touch.
The Bennett Boys Team from Bennett GM in Cambridge start their mile.
Participants Walk A Mile In Her Shoes, literally, to raise funds and awareness for women’s programs run by the Cambridge YWCA.
Why walk when you can run?! These guys raced to the finish line!
Raising awareness for YWCA programs that support local girls and women.
The best part was seeing people’s reactions to all the men in red heels when they had no idea what was going on.
By this point in the walk, more than a few guys were hobbling along.
Father and son, bringing it home.
What a great sport!
Finish line!
Some men could not get those heels off fast enough!
Success!
Volunteers raise awareness for YWCA programs and collect funds to support women and girls in our community.
Participants and volunteers were all treated to lunch served by Kiwi.
The Bennett boys load up on the delicious spread provided by Kiwi across the street from City Hall.
The crew from 107.5 DAVE FM.
107.5 DAVE FM team.
The team from 107.5 DAVE FM.
Participants were rewarded with delightful custom cupcakes from Tiny Cakes on Dickson Street across from City Hall.
A cold drink and free food never tasted so good!
Fantastic YWCA staff and volunteers coordinated a really fun event.
YWCA board member Sue Sturdy displays the Tiny Cakes custom cupcake she is about to enjoy.
Our web designer, Sanjeev of Jelly Triangle enjoys a massage from Massage Works.
Plenty of ladies also wore red shoes to show their support.
- The wonderful people from Kiwi that provided lunch for all the volunteers and fundraisers.
After the shoes are all returned to their boxes, the organizers recognized top fundraisers for their efforts to raise money for YWCA programs.
A special award for our two youngest participants.
Prize winning fundraiser.
Another top fundraiser wins a framed art print by yours truly.
Another outstanding fund raiser.
Enjoying lunch provided by Kiwi Cafe.
The Handsome Men’s Club wins a prize for their contribution to Walk A Mile In Her Shoes.
More of our top fund raisers this year.
And the last prize for the day is awarded to The Bennett Boys for raising thousands of dollars in support of this event.
Event organizer, Megan Lambe, gives a speech about the day, and why girl’s and women’s programs are important to support.
More wise words from Megan Lambe.
Closing remarks and thank yous to everyone that made Walk A Mile Cambridge 2013 such a success.
The wonderful team that organized Walk A Mile, Cambridge, 2013.
This gentleman won an art print from yours truly. The photo is of a tree covered in vines in front of a graffiti shark on a cement block wall.
Winding down the event.
Massages provided by Massage Works from KW.
Customized cupcakes by Tiny Cakes.
TIny Cakes made especially for the Cambridge Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event.
Cupcakes designed especially for our event by the team at Tiny Cakes.
As you can see, we all had a pretty good time at Walk A Mile 2013. Even better, walkers were able to raise a total of over $14,000 in one mile! Male friends and family beware, I’ll be asking some of you to form a team for this event next summer. The number one reason that men choose to participate in the walk is because a woman they love specifically asked them to. Do you know a man that would look good in red heels? Want to find out? Visit the website to stay in touch, and register for the next walk. Thanks to everyone that made this event so much fun. See you next year!