Men dress in heels to walk a mile in the shoes of victims

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - Few can understand the pain of domestic violence unless they've walked in the shoes of a victim.

Click on the attached video to hear from the director of the UMKC Women's Center

Tuesday night, the UMKC Violence Prevention and Response Project and the Kansas City Anti-Violence Project organized a light-hearted event to bring attention to a grave problem.

Students, faculty and community members gathered on the campus of UMKC for the 2010 Walk a Mile in Her Shoes : The International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault and Gender Violence.

Men faced the challenge of doing just that – walking a mile in heels. They created quite the spectacle as they hobbled across campus.

"We've had really good guys who've had fun with it, but also take it seriously and get the point behind it," explained Brenda Bethman, the Director of the UMKC Women's Center.

While many walked away with blisters, guys like UMKC’s Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Enrollment Mel Tyler took it all in stride for a good cause.

“It’s actually like learning to walk all over again,” Tyler confessed. “I just think it’s great and I really support this effort.”

Proceeds from the event will benefit the UMKC Violence Prevention and Response Project and the Kansas City Anti-Violence Project.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call the Kansas City Domestic Violence Hotline at (816) 861-6100 or contact Rose Brooks Center .