Walk a Mile
Tradition
“Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” has been a long-running awareness tradition across the united states. The national organization Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® has been helping to organize the annual walks since 2001, but the event has not been held in the Augusta area since Augusta University’s Alpha Chi Omega sorority hosted it in 2023. SARC has not organized the event since 2019 when we were known as RCSAS.
The original purpose of the walk is for men to pledge to push back against sexual and gender violence by walking an entire mile in women’s high heels. It is based upon the common idea of putting oneself in another’s place, or shoes. It is an expression of empathy. The pain of walking in heels is tied to the pain of experiencing gender violence, as both are associated with the experiences of women. The hope is to gain a better understanding and respect what women often go through.
Change
SARC is working to revive the Walk a Mile event for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April 2026. Historically, this has been “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,” but as we revive the tradition, we would also like to refresh it. Women are not the only people who experience sexual assault, rape, coercion, or harassment. Men, transgender, and gender-nonconforming individuals have all survived and struggled with sexual violence. To honor all those who have fought and continue to fight for their voice to be heard and autonomy to be respected, we walk.
Our goal is to invite not just men but all genders, ages, and backgrounds to participate in the walk. You can dedicate your walk to a survivor in your life, even as anonymously as “my mom” or “best friend,” by writing the dedication on one of our teal ribbons and hanging it up.
Family Fun
Educational material and local resources will be available for anyone to look at, but no one is required to. If you are interested in just having a fun family activity out in the sun on a warm spring afternoon while supporting the cause, the Walk a Mile is the place to be!
For your convenience, entertainment, and comfort, the Walk a Mile event will offer…
- Food trucks and other refreshments
- Chalk art for all ages (themed to saying “no!”)
- Vendors from our sponsors and local partners
- Trained therapy dogs
Register Here
The goal for Walk a Mile is awareness and education. We want everyone to have the chance to participate, so registration is COMPLETELY FREE. All you have to do is complete the registration seen here under “General Admission”. We are excited to see you take on the Walk A Mile challenge!
Sponsorship
We welcome local businesses and corporations who would like to help sponsor the event. In exchange, your organization can receive social media and website shoutouts, mentions on the back of our 2026 Walk a Mile T-shirts, or other ways to show you support survivors. You can explore these options using the link below.
T-Shirts
If you would like to show off your support and participation, one of our T-shirts is the best way to go! You can raise funds (either on your own or with a team), and after $100, you will receive a free T-shirt. If you want to go ahead and purchase one yourself, you can do that here. There will be other swag available on the day of the event, but if you want your 2026 shirt, order now with the provided link!
Donations & "Why I Walk" Ribbons
You can help us to raise funds for the costs of running a large event such as Walk A Mile or just in general to support our mission and day-to-day services. If you or your organization are interested in donating to SARC, please see the provided link. We are extremely grateful for any contribution; every dollar counts.
If you would like to use your donation to purchase a Why I Walk ribbon, you may also do this here. The ribbon will be displayed at the Walk a Mile event and is one way to show your support for the survivors in your life. You can write something as anonymous as “My Mother” or “My Best Friend.”
Fundraise as a Team
If you want to work with friends, family, or as an organization to raise funds together, you can create or join a team using the button below! Teams who have the highest participation or the most funds raised will win a prize!
The Exhibits
As another part of the changes coming to our upcoming Walk a Mile event, SARC plans to include impactful exhibits for participants to view. Since the 2010s, the “What Were You Wearing?” exhibits have showcased the clothing that survivors wore during sexual assault or harassment nationwide. This is a real, physical, visual way to represent survivors. Not only were they assaulted, but it was often while wearing the most mundane outfits. There is a myth that the way a person presents themselves (in clothing, hair, makeup, jewelry, etc.) is in some way “asking for it.” This exhibition of real examples shows that is far from the truth, and those who commit sexual assault do so for their own personal satisfaction and control, not because the victim wanted it.
For this event, SARC’s “Clothing Is Not Consent” exhibit will feature recreations of clothing of real sexual assault survivors that SARC has served as well as anonymous submissions. A person’s clothing is NEVER a form of consent, as consent is not something that can be implied. Only an explicit, verbal “yes” is consent.
On top of the clothing exhibit, SARC is also asking for local artists and survivors to submit art inspired by how sexual assault has impacted them or someone in their life. We would love to share the creative and emotionally-driven artwork of the CSRA by displaying it with the rest of the exhibit.
Submit Your Art
If you are passionate about combatting sexual assault, like to create art, or both, we would love to see your work! You can submit your awareness-themed art below. After reviewing the pieces, they have the chance to be displayed with the exhibit.
Please understand that while we do fully respect the struggles of coinciding trauma, such as domestic violence/intimate partner violence and child abuse, we are looking particularly for art impacted by sexual violence.
Clothing Is Not Consent
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault in their lifetime and are trying to find a way to share their story, this is a great place to start. Your voice can be heard here, and your experience can be represented without needing to identify yourself. To anonymously submit what you wore during an assault, you can fill out the form below.
Content Warning
The form below invites reflection on experiences of sexual violence, which may be difficult or triggering. You are in full control of what you share; please only include what feels right for you. If you need support, you can contact our 24/7 crisis hotline at 706-774-5200.