Walk A Mile In Our Shoes

Did you know that more than 400 million young people throughout the world do not have shoes, therefore putting them at risk for injury and disease? Earlier this week on Tuesday, I had the privilege of participating in one of the largest events in Cary. On April 5, at 6:30 PM, the Cary Family YMCA had the opportunity to make history in being a part of TOMS One Day Without Shoes. This event was held in an effort to raise awareness to help change the statistics that result from disease and injury from having no shoes to wear. It went on rain or shine, and it was shoe optional. An estimated one million people worldwide went without shoes for the day, a number more than the estimated 250,000 people who participated last year.

I have been working with the Cary YMCA in the after school program for almost two years now, and although I have stopped working for a few weeks due to school sports, I am so happy that I have been able to come back to work and to help out with various things. The TOMS walk was something that I could not miss. Since March 7, 2011, tons of people in the community have donated pairs of shoes. In our individual programs at the YMCA, we have been doing things to help increase awareness and to promote this event by playing games related to shoes and doing various arts and crafts projects.  Consequently, on April 5, and as a result of the outcome from the Cary YMCA, North Carolina became the second largest state to participate in the country. We got approximately 2000 pairs of shoes total, and now we get to send ten people to Ethiopia from our association to help put shoes on those who are less fortunate.

                To be honest, I did not recognize how huge of an event this was going to be until that evening. There were so many families and friends walking, and so many people had a reason to walk, even if was as simple as “I want my kid to understand how fortunate they are.” Some people, including myself, walked the mile about three times! Not only did this event help to raise my awareness on what kids my age are going through in other countries, but it also allowed me to realize how fortunate I have been over the years, and how important it is to help others.

*When you buy a TOMS shoe, the organization donates a pair of shoes to a child in need. For more information on the TOMS walk, check out this YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BitShRujoeA&feature=player_embedded#at=43.

-- Mattie