Decked out in his ROTC attire, storm clouds moving in overhead, this must have been one of the toughest miles Craig Sharp ever completed.

It wasn’t the length. It wasn’t the terrain. It was what he was walking in.

It was Sharp’s first time in high heels.

Sharp, a kinesiology and sports studies major, spent his Sunday afternoon walking in high heels to raise awareness of sexual violence.

One of more than 20 people sporting high heels, pumps and go-go boots, Sharp walked with a sign that read “I Am Man Enough To Walk In Her Shoes!”

The trek took the walkers from a pavilion in Morton Park, down Lincoln Ave., over to Fourth Street and back around to Morton Park. With two laps under their belts, the volunteers completed the mile.

Daniel Alix, a professor of military science, also walked next to Sharp, and he also sported his own set of sparkling red high heels.

“We’re huge supporters of these events,” Alix said. “This is just one of the great causes.”

Although walking in heels for the first time was “quite painful” for Alix, he said he knew there was no way he wasn’t going to finish the mile.

Erin Walters, the executive director of Sexual Assault Counseling and Information Service, said the event was about getting people to understand what it is like, playing on the old idea of not knowing someone until you’ve walked in their shoes.

“We want to try and understand what it must be like,” she said. “We want to be better allies.”

While this is the first Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event at Eastern, it is an event that occurs statewide, nation-wide and in other countries, Walters said.

Walters also made the announcement that beginning in June, SACIS will be moving to a new location.

Currently located in the basement of Lawson Hall, SACIS will be moving to 1505 18th St., Suite #2, Charleston. The funds raised from the Walk A Mile event went toward helping the services relocate.

Bob Galuski can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].