WATERLOO REGION – YWCA Cambridge’s annual walk to end gender-based violence (GBV)
returns for its fourteenth run Saturday, October 14 in downtown Galt.
Walk A Mile in Their Shoes is a walk to raise awareness of and end gender-based violence
by raising funds to support YWCA Cambridge’s free violence prevention programming with
girls and gender diverse youth across Waterloo Region.
To date, YWCA Cambridge has raised more than $172,000 through its annual Walk A Mile
campaign and has a goal of raising $50,000 this year alone in effort to expand their
programming and address the waitlist that began to soar during the pandemic and
continues to grow.
“Many people see the pandemic as being well behind us,” said YWCA Cambridge CEO, Kim
Decker. “In many ways it is; however, we’re still dealing with the impacts of the shutdowns
and disruptions on youth who experienced unprecedented levels of isolation and mental
health challenges.
“Parents and teachers are still reporting increased behavioural and social challenges
among youth – bullying remains a serious issue, particularly bullying related to gender,
sexuality and ethno-cultural origins.”
YWCA Cambridge’s evidence-based programming with youth is rooted in violence
prevention, empowering youth to develop self-confidence, and understanding of healthy
relationships and boundaries and more. This programming receives no stable funding and
yet, demand for it continues to outpace YWCA’s capacity to deliver it.
“A critical piece of ending gender-based violence is preventing it before it can take root.
That’s why we do this work and that’s why we need our community’s help to make it
available to everyone who needs it,” said Decker.
Walk a Mile in Their Shoes is a free, family-friendly event. Community members can register
as individuals, join an existing team or create their own team – the signature red high heels
will be available to walkers who wish to don them, but are not mandatory. To learn more,
register to walk or sponsor a walker: ywcacambridge.ca
For more information, please contact Roz Gunn, Director of Communications and
Advocacy, YWCA Cambridge, at r.gunn@ywcacambridge.ca.
Photo credit goes to Emily Beatty Imagery
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