Men and boys from around the area will be teetering and tottering through downtown Modesto on bright red high-heeled shoes on Saturday as they attempt to complete the Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus County’s fourth annual Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event.

Walk A Mile In Her Shoes is an awareness and fundraising campaign to end domestic violence and sexual assault. It’s based on the adage that a person can’t really understand another individual’s experience until they “walk a mile” in their shoes. The participants of the walk are asked to put the adage into practice by walking a mile in high heel shoes.

Walk A Mile In Her Shoes was first put into practice in 2001 and was seen as an event that would help promote the idea that sexual assault and domestic violence are not just women’s issues.

“Ending violence will not happen by engaging victims alone,” said Haven Women’s Center Executive Director May Rico. “Ending violence will only happen when we truly have a culture of safety, ready to support them, to believe them and to hold the people who hurt them accountable beyond a criminal justice response. Gender-based violence has historically been thought of as a women’s issue that women need to fix.”

Last year’s walk raised around $52,000, which went to support individuals affected by domestic violence and sexual assault in the community. The Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus County has offices in Turlock and Modesto and operates an emergency shelter in Modesto.

All genders are invited to participate in the walk. The red high heels will be provided to the men by Haven. They have sizes ranging from 8.5 to 16.

Registration and check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday in front of the Gallo Center for the Arts at 1000 I Street in Modesto.

Those wanting to participate in the walk or donate can do so by going to http://www.havenwalkamile.org/