Supporters of the Rape Crisis Center will need to put away their heels and get out their superhero capes this year.
The agency is changing the format and theme for its fundraiser to try to be more sensitive to transgender people and male victims of sexual assault.
Rather than Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, an event that encouraged participants to don heels in support of sexual-assault awareness, this year’s 12th annual fundraiser will be called Walk of Heroes.
Cindy Bloom, director of the Rape Crisis Center of Summit & Medina Counties, said the agency had been criticized for the fundraiser’s focus on female sexual assault victims. A few people wrote on fliers for last year’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event, “What about men?”
“I feel like it is hard enough for someone who is a male survivor to come forward — or a trans-survivor — that I don’t want to do anything to make anyone feel unwelcome at the Rape Crisis Center,” Bloom said.
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is an international event with a trademarked name, so Bloom thought it would be inappropriate to change the name to “Walk a Mile in Their Shoes.” She said the agency’s new heroes focus will recognize police officers, nurses, judges, teachers and others who help sexual-assault victims. Participants will be encouraged to dress like one of these everyday heroes or in a superhero cape or outfit.
This year’s fundraiser will include two events rather than one. Both will be held in April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
The first will be April 7 in Medina Public Square, while the second will be April 28 at Lock 3 in downtown Akron. The events will take place 5-8 p.m.
Bloom said this switch is meant to emphasize how the agency serves both Summit and Medina counties. The previous walks were in Akron.
The Rape Crisis Center also will host or co-host several events in March and April. These will include a panel discussion at the Akron Roundtable on March 16 and talks featuring Mike Pistorino, an adult survivor of child sexual abuse, on April 3 and New York Times bestselling author Peggy Orenstein on April 18. Both speeches will be at the University of Akron.
The walk is the agency’s only fundraiser, with the money used to fund prevention and education programs. Last year, 750 people participated and raised $55,000. This year, the fundraising goal is $65,000.
In keeping with the new heroes theme, the Rape Crisis Center will give awards to the agency’s volunteer and hero of the year.
Bloom said the agency has received positive feedback from its supporters about the change in the walk theme, with many already signing up to participate.
That includes Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE), a UA fraternity that has been on board with the walk since its inception.
“This provides us with a way of giving thanks to everyday heroes who prevent sexual violence, like a police officer or common person,” said Miguel Lopez, a UA senior and president of the fraternity that helps with fundraising, setup and cleanup for the event. “It’s a bigger event now. It’s not only about the victims but about those who help the victims.”
TKE had about 60 people from its chapter and other nearby chapters participate last year and raised more than $6,000. The fraternity hopes to surpass that amount this year and bring in $7,000.
Lopez also is working to get more Greeks to participate this year, with plans to award the fraternity and sorority that raise the most a trophy. (TKE won’t be in the running.)
Lopez said a few of his fraternity brothers may continue to wear heels as an homage to the previous walk theme, along with superhero capes or costumes. He plans to dress as the Flash, but may forgo the heels. His feet were sore last year after he wore 2-inch heels.
“I don’t know how some women do it,” he said, laughing.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705, swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj .