Student Athletes Walk for a Cause
This past weekend Castleton student athletes from the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams stepped out to help the local community fight domestic violence, as they participated in the Rutland Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event to promote education and conscious change for both domestic and sexual violence.
Modeled after the International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault and Gender Violence, the event challenged local community members to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. To show their support participants sported red shoes or high heels, with all proceeds from the event being donated exclusively to the Rutland County Women’s Network and Shelter.
Team members joined Castleton President Dave Wolk, Dean of Entrepreneurial Programs Lyle Jepson, and Director for the Center of Community Engagement Chrispin White for the walk, which surpassed its goal of raising $50,000 for the shelter.
“The event was a fantastic way to raise awareness and support for the cause,” said senior women’s ice hockey player Jessica Cameron, “I was thrilled to be one of those supporters and to see so many red heels!"
The Rutland County Women’s Shelter is a non-profit human service agency dedicated to assisting survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The organization’s focus includes outreach, education, advocacy and crisis services to the communities of Rutland County with the goal of protecting those who are victims of abuse, while working to prevent and decrease instances of further abuse.