Alpha Chi Omega sorority (AXO) hosted a “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event Friday on Library Mall where the University of Wisconsin-Madison students walked in high heels to spread awareness about domestic violence and support survivors through the Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS).
The event aimed to help raise awareness and funds for domestic violence survivors through Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS), Dane County’s local domestic abuse shelter.
Participants who had signed up and donated for the event literally “Walked a Mile in Her Shoes” as part of a relay race competition.
“Even if I am just running in high heels, I am happy to be supporting a cause like this in any way I can,” sophomore Petar Minic said. “I have two sisters, and they would have loved to see this.”
DAIS strives to empower and support those affected by domestic violence, according to their website. They have preventative and support groups and a crisis helpline for those who need it. They rely heavily on donations and grants.
“It’s a pretty funny concept,” AXO Vice President of Philanthropy Riley Sarsany said. “Literally being put in [a woman’s] shoes, because a majority of victims of domestic violence are women.”
Sarsany added that they wanted to spread awareness and help fundraise for DAIS in a fun and light-hearted way that also engaged members of the community.
Assistant Vice President of Philanthropy at AXO Charlotte Brager, who helped plan and run the event said she first came across the idea on TikTok and knew that the sorority had to bring it to campus.
“I probably went to like eight different thrift stores to try to find enough heels that are big enough to fit on a guy’s foot,” Brager said.
As the event began, those who wanted to participate filled out waiver forms and then had heels duct-taped to their feet. Seven teams of four lined up at the start. When the race started, a large crowd cheered participants on as they ran their laps. Heels went flying on the track and chaos ensued at the starting line as many of the runners scrambled to pass their pair of heels to the next member of their team.
An audience gradually filled Library Mall as the event progressed — some to participate, others just to observe. “No matter if we had two teams or twenty, I am just happy that people showed up and they had a good time,” Sarsany said.
When asked about events that they plan on doing in the future, both Brager and Sarsany said they were excited for the annual “Mr. AXO” event to be held at the end of the month, also in support of victims of domestic abuse and DAIS.
“DAIS is local. That is really important to Alpha Chi Omega. The goal at the end of the day is to keep DAIS open,” crisis line advocate for DAIS and member of AXO Mackie Boone said. “They have had a federal funding cut over the last six months or so, so we are looking to keep them open and serving the community.”
