Men who braved the chilly weather and wore 4-inch high heels for the cause included Austin High School teacher Adam Gibson, Greater Scott County Chamber of Commerce board member Hank Jentzen, Mayor Bill Graham, Mayor Doug Campbell, City of Scottsburg Police officer Scott Zellers, Scott County State Bank Senior Vice President/Senior Lender Russ Comer, Scott County State Bank President Syd Whitlock, Scott Memorial Hospital CEO Clifford Nay, United Way of Scott County Board members Tim Edwards, Anthony Peacock and Kyle Akers, community members Michael Routh, Bob Tobias, Bart Hough, Josh McRae and Richard Raleigh.

   Men pushed baby strollers, walked with family members and leaned on others for support, but the majority was able to finish in their high heels, colored red and pink. Some passersby even stopped to take pictures of the procession around the lake.

    “Abuse takes many forms including mental and emotional abuse,” said participant Russ Comer. “I have seen this first hand and it is a terrible thing, probably as bad as physical abuse. No individual should have to live in an abusive environment and anything we can do to help them bring attention to this and give someone the chance to leave a situation must be accomplished.
   “One in three women has experienced gender violence in her lifetime. A woman is raped every 90 seconds in American,” said Frank Baird, founder of the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes march. “That means someone you know, someone you care about has been the victim of sexual violence. This violence does not just affect women. Men are hurt and angered when women they care about are raped. Men are hurt and angered when they try to develop relationships with women in an atmosphere of fear and mistrust and blame. And the same violence that targets women also targets men because rape isn’t about sex, it’s about power, control and violence.”
   The event raised $1,500 for the Center for Women and Families, which engages individuals and the community in the elimination of domestic violence, sexual violence and economic hardship through service, education and advocacy. Locally, there were 17 women and children from Scott County served in an emergency shelter from July 2005 through June 2006 due to domestic violence.
   United Way’s two student board members, Becca Hough of Austin High School and Brooke Routh of Scottsburg High School, led the efforts. The high school art classes designed signs stating the sobering statistics of abuse. Their student councils were also active in raising money and volunteering for the cause. Scottsburg High School’s band The Flew performed for the event.
   United Way of Scott County would like to thank the participants, donors, volunteers, board members and the Center for Women and Families, who helped make this event successful.
   United Way of Scott County would also like to thank the following sponsors: Goin’ Postal, Scottsburg Building and Loan, Jeffrey L. Cox, P.C., Drs. Downing, Roberts and Downing, Centra Credit Union, Saegesser Engineering, Jeffrey’s Auto Exchange, Jay C Food Store and Austin Supermarket.