ATHABASCA- Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is back for its 11th annual event, although this year things will look a little different than they have in the past.
The annual fundraiser hosted by the Athabasca and Area Prevention of Relationship Abuse Committee (PRAAC) to support the THRIVE program which is offered in Athabasca for victims, families and anyone else affected by relationship abuse, by Healthy Families Healthy Futures, will be held entirely online this year.
“We decided to go virtual this year,” said co-organizer Tamara Yurchak last week. “By the time we had to make the decision, April or May, there still was lots of uncertainty, and we just said, 'You know what? We don't know what's happening, but we do need to continue and make a plan.'”
Men are being asked to register online this year and raise their funds over the course of the next few months with a deadline of October 12. The extended period has been allowed with the hopes of raising $8,000 more than last year's goal of $15,000.
“Because of more grants not being available, in order to maintain the hours for the THRIVE outreach mentor here in town, Healthy Families has asked us for $23,000 in financial commitments,” Yurchak explained.
“So, with that being said, our goal this year is a lot higher.”
By using a changed format, there is also the hope that participants will turn to social media to get the word out there about the event.
“We wanted to put a little bit more of a social media fling to it just because it is virtual,” Yurchak said, adding that there would be an additional prize drawn for those posting about the event on social media.
As for other prizes, Walk a Mile is working with the Athabasca Pottery Club to offer handcrafted medals, made with Athabasca clay, for the first 25 men who sign up and raise at least $200.
Even though the event is continuing online, most of the awards will remain the same.
“We're going back to having the same kind of competition to the events, as in previous years,” Yurchak said.
“We're going to have a top youth fundraiser, a top adult fundraiser and a top corporate fundraiser category so each one of them will get a little trophy. The top adult fundraiser, because that's the one that's been around for the longest time, will receive a really huge trophy that we have.”
If you or anyone you know would like to participate, registration can be found at https://athabascapraac.ca/wam-2021.
