Quick Escape 
We did it!!
The first-ever virtual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes was a huge success, drawing 205 participants on 45 teams. Thanks to you, we raised $113,700 and counting – that’s 134 per cent of our original goal!
With large gatherings suspended this year due to Covid-19, we weren’t sure what to expect when we moved our annual in-person rally and march online. But we were completely blown away by the support, participation, and enthusiasm as we worked together to help end violence against women.
Walkers in Hamilton, Burlington, and even Nova Scotia put on their red shoes and participated in online events ranging from a World Dance Party to our Geocache Challenge. Social media posts tagged with #WAMHamilton made over 70,000 impressions on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, including some adorable pictures of our doggy pals and babies walking alongside us.
Donations poured in from friends overseas in Abu Dhabi, Ireland, California, Texas, New York, Illinois, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Washington! And from Canada, support has rolled in from Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Quebec and all throughout Ontario!
The week culminated in a live virtual awards ceremony, presented by Meridian and hosted by CHCH anchor Lisa Hepfner. For those of you who couldn’t tune in live, the full ceremony is now available to screen on YouTube.
At the awards ceremony, four coveted shoe trophies were handed out: Anne Tennier won the Top Individual Fundraiser award; Alectra Utilities & Friends won Top Team Fundraiser; the Development Dream Team & Friends won Biggest Team; and the “Who Walked it Best” award went to The Wonder Women (Jen Gavin & Maureen Fitzpatrick).
Our social media sweepstakes winner, Rana Aldibs, will take home an Adventure Prize Pack valued at $700 while our Grand Prize Draw winner Maddie Brockbank will take home a Hamilton Community Business Pack valued at over $800. Congratulations to all of our winners!
The format of Walk a Mile in Her Shoes was different this year, but the fight to end violence against women and girls continues. Funds raised during Walk Week directly support vital YWCA Hamilton programs that help women and children flee violence and access the training and support they need to thrive on their own.
We couldn’t have done it without our generous sponsors: Presenting Sponsor Meridian; Annual Sponsor Atomic Spark; Walk Week sponsors Alectra and TradeLink International; Gladiator sponsor The Personal Mortgage Group; Sneaker Sponsors McCallum Sather and Comeback Snacks; and our Route Marker Sponsors Centre de sante communautaire, Dovetail, McGowan, Posh Home Cleaning, and the Royal Connaught.
We would also like to recognize the generous support of the following local Hamilton Businesses who “went red” in solidarity with survivors of violence during walk week: Marci’s Bakery, Come Back Snacks, nad.rah, A Child’s World (ACW), Fabutan and Hush Lash Studio. And, our thanks to those who gave generously donated to our awesome prize packs: Skydive Toronto, Blackbird Studios, Hamilton’s Jamaican Patty Shack, Katie Favell Designs, De La Sol Yoga Studios, the Hamilton Store, and KM Salter Designs.
And finally, our special thanks and appreciation to the members of our YWCA Hamilton staff team, Philanthropy Committee and Board of Directors who helped make our first ever virtual event possible.
Thank you for your support during Walk a Mile in Her Shoes 2020 – we’ll see you in 2021!
