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Walk in Her Shoes stands up to domestic violence

Around 100 people showed their support for the cause, raising over $30,000 for SOWINS
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Some of the best-dressed in the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event showed off their moves in a dance off for some prizes. Dustin Godfrey/Western News

The South Okanagan Women in Need Society raised over $30,000 through their Walk in Her Shoes event on Friday.

The total of $30,770 isn’t even the end of it, according to organizers, who said money is still coming in from donors who weren’t able to make it to the walk, which is intended to promote safety in the home for women.

“We were hoping for $25,000, and money is still coming in, so we’re very, very happy,” said SOWINS executive director Debbie Scarborough, adding that around 100 people participated.

Related: SOWINS helping youth in distress

The event is intended to be a collective show of support for women who face domestic violence to send a message that they aren’t alone, while also acting as SOWINS’s major fundraiser of the year.

On top of the 100-or-so people walking, the event had music, booths and a number of areas with thousands of flags planted as a visual reminder of the impact of SOWINS and those the group has yet to reach. That included 2,339 for the number of times a woman is provided a bed by the non-profit and the 1,483 turned away due to over capacity.

“(It’s) one of the things you hear audibly, and then you see it for visual and, now, tactile, everyone’s pulling them out,” Scarborough said.

“We’ve had some people that were just — last year, especially; I didn’t see as many people this year — just sitting there and remembering someone that they lost.”

Related: Support needed for those who help others

Organizer Marni Adams said she was impressed with the success, especially because the planning began late this year.

“That being said, we certainly saw the support of the community, which is fabulous,” she said. “What we really saw this year was building into the next few years to make this even bigger.”

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Some of the best-dressed in the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event showed off their moves in a dance off for some prizes. Dustin Godfrey/Western News
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Mayor Andrew Jakubeit was one of the dozens to walk in high heels. Size 13 shoes had to be ordered in advance for his walk. Dustin Godfrey/Western News
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Debbie Maliepaard and Mikey donned tutus, and Maliepard put on some high-heeled boots for the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event. Dustin Godfrey/Western News
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Santa was among the crowd in the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event to stand up to domestic abuse. Dustin Godfrey/Western News
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Firefighter Shane Groot, walking in high heels, carries a woman to the end of the walk in Rotary Park. Dustin Godfrey/Western News
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Some of the best-dressed in the event show off their costumes for some prizes at the end of Walk a Mile in Her Shoes. Dustin Godfrey/Western News
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Firefighter Shane Groot shows off his moves in a dance-off among some of the best costumes in the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event. Dustin Godfrey/Western News