On Wednesday evening, April 9, 2008, over 400 men (and women) put on a pair of women’s shoes and walked through the streets of downtown San Jose in support of sexual assault awareness!  It was a dramatic sight to behold as most were clad in black tee shirts with the words “Put Yourself in Her Shoes” and were able to cross the streets as a group thanks to the watchful eyes of the San Jose Police motorcycle patrol.  This 6th Annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event brought together community leaders, local politicians, police, firefighters, business people, and residents…all in the name of educating the public to the problem of sexual assault and violence in our community.

Walkers were asked to meet in Plaza de Cesar Chavez (in downtown San Jose) at 4pm, pick out some shoes that the YWCA provided, put on their tee shirt and walk through the streets of downtown—less than a mile—to call attention to the problem of sexual assault in our community.  Walking cadence was provided by the extraordinary San Jose Taiko drummers.

There, awards were given out to some of the outstanding participants who raised the most money and brought out the most walkers.  Proceeds from this year’s walk totaled over $35,000 and will benefit the YWCA's Rape Crisis Center victims of violence and sexual assault.
Some of the highlights were: 
1)  This year’s 2008 Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® Committee Co-Chairs were:
           
·  Rob Davis, Police Chief, San Jose Police Department
·  Darryl Von Raesfeld, acting Fire Chief, San Jose Fire     Department
·  Wayne Davis, Santa Clara County Director of Operations for AMR
·  Chris Johnson, Photographer
·  Dan Fenton, Chairman of the Board, Team San Jose – President and CEO, San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau
·  Russ Hancock, President/CEO, Joint Venture Silicon   Valley

2)  This year’s sponsors included:
            Team San Jose
            NBC11
            KBAY Radio
            Kaiser Permanente
            City of San Jose
            San Jose Taiko
            Joseph George
            M. E. Fox, Inc.
            Starbuck’s
            Glaceau
3)   The company bringing the most walkers was: Lockheed Martin….0ver 100!
4)   The service club bringing the most walkers was:  The Los Gatos Morning Rotary    Club
5)   The organization bringing the most volunteers was:  San Jose State University

Be sure to join the walk in 2009!  More information will follow shortly. To inspire you to walk next year view these great photos from this years walk. (click here)