Men to 'Run a Mile in Her Shoes'

Imagine 100 men running down Main Street … in high heels. Sound like some kind of bizarre dream? Think again.

On June 12 that vision will become reality when the first-ever Greenville “Run a Mile in Her Shoes” Men's High Heel Race hits downtown.

Men's high-heel races have been taking hold in other parts of the country from New York to Atlanta to raise money for charitable causes. Greenville's race next month will benefit the local chapter of the American Diabetes Association.

It seemed a fitting fundraiser, says Joyce Fort, owner of Ecy Shoes n' Chic Boutique and one of the race organizers.

As the owner of a shoe store and having family experiences with diabetes, “we were really trying to focus on the affects on your feet with diabetes,” Fort says.

Fifteen dollars from every $16.82 entry fee will be donated to the ADA, she says.

The logistics of the race are simple. Men don heels and run (yes, run) a quarter of a mile from The Cook's Station to the Liberty Bridge. There is no heel height minimum, style or brand requirement, Fort says. She adds that many registrants have had successful shopping experiences at Goodwill and Salvation Army stores.

“Other options are typical,” Fort says of choosing an atypical fundraiser. “You have your walk, whereas a men's high-heel race, that's different. That's something that's going to resonate with you and hopefully draw a lot of interest.”