On Saturday, May 11, Safe Alliance was joined by more than 580 supporters at the 12th annual Walk A Mile fundraising event presented by Covia and Great Clips. The event raised more than $172,000 to support individuals impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault.
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes was a national organization that was brought to Charlotte in 2013 by a group of young Bank of America volunteers in conjunction with Safe Alliance. In 2021, Safe Alliance renamed the event simply "Walk A Mile" to be inclusive to all survivors regardless of gender. Participants of the event walk a mile together, many with family (including those with four legs). Some walk or run in heels. Others dress in festive tutus, graphic t-shirts and color their hair. Several participants decorate signs of support. All strut in solidarity for survivors.
"It has grown every year and we are excited to have yet another record-breaking year of fundraising," said Jared Yerg, long-time Save Alliance fundraiser, volunteer and co-chair of the Walk A Mile volunteer committee.
"What if the change you are resisting is the one that gives you wings?"
This quote was displayed across the event's most creative sign. The balloon arch type sign represented a caterpillar changing into a butterfly. Safe Alliance's Sexual Trauma Resource Center (STRC) team picked the theme of butterflies as it relates to transformation-specifically difficult transformations. "It's hard to change patterns of behavior that you've always known or move away from relationships that aren't serving you. Especially when there are complex concerns around physical, emotional, and financial safety," said Leanna Pai LCMHC, LPC, ATR-BC, Director of STRC and Safe Alliance's Lake Norman office. "It's important for us to acknowledge both the difficulty of our client's experiences and the hope and healing we know is possible," said Pai.
The Winners List
- Top Individual Fundraiser: Karim Kajani (5th year in a row)
- Top Team (Corporate): Bank of America LEAD Team
- Top Team (Community): The Defeeters, led by teen fundraisers Colson & Lincoln Goldstein
- Most Spirited: NERD.0 Team
- Most Creative Sign: Safe Alliance Sexual Trauma Resource Center Hope Hustler
- Fastest Finisher In Heels: Armani McDonald
- Suzie and Todd Ford Community Award: Joey Hewell and Scott Lindsley
Joey Hewell and his husband Scott have supported Walk A Mile for more than 6 years. Often taking home the award for "Highest Heels" or "Most Spirited", this year they were awarded, the second annual "Suzie and Todd Ford Community Award.""We were both genuinely shocked and incredibly grateful to receive such an award. Especially considering Todd & Suzie are pillars of our community and inspire us daily to become better versions of ourselves," said Hewell.
A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors, on-site vendors and partners who donated to our silent auction. Please view the full list here.
Please follow us on social media @Safe_Alliance to learn more about our work and for updates on events, volunteer opportunities, and impact.
