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WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

Third Annual 'Walk A Mile In Her Shoes' Event Scheduled For Saturday In DeKalb

Flickr user Tony Alter / "Nice Heels" (CC v 2.0)

About 100 people are expected to participate in this year’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event Saturday in DeKalb. About a quarter of that number will be men walking that mile in high heels.

Registration is up from last year’s event. That’s according to Kendal Baker – she is a spokeswoman for Safe Passage, which is a domestic violence agency and rape crisis center in DeKalb County.

Kendal Baker, Marketing & Communication Specialist at Safe Passage in DeKalb County

Baker says the main purpose of the nationwide event is to continue to bring awareness to sexual assault and domestic violence, especially since this month is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

“It’s extremely hard to talk about for people,” Baker said. “But in order for that to be prevented, it is something that does need to be talked about.”

Baker says this is the third year that Safe Passage has hosted the event.

“We’ve seen the #MeToo movement come forward this year. We’ve seen the #TimesUp movement. We’ve seen all of these things,” Baker said. “All of these people are just wanting to get their stories out and get help so they can move on with their lives and become more successful, too.”

Baker says registration alone is expected to bring in about $2,000 this year.

Baker says this year’s event starts 11 a.m. Saturday at the NIU student center -- weather permitting -- and includes an after party at Fatty’s, which is new this year. A portion of drink sales will benefit Safe Passage as well.