{"id":50328,"date":"2023-03-28T06:02:46","date_gmt":"2023-03-28T04:02:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/toes-hurt-for-a-good-cause-men-walk-the-uncomfortable-walk-in-womens-shoes-for-gbv-20230328\/"},"modified":"2025-03-19T20:46:02","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T18:46:02","slug":"toes-hurt-for-a-good-cause-men-walk-the-uncomfortable-walk-in-womens-shoes-for-gbv-20230328","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/toes-hurt-for-a-good-cause-men-walk-the-uncomfortable-walk-in-womens-shoes-for-gbv-20230328\/","title":{"rendered":"Toes hurt for a good cause: Men walk the uncomfortable walk in women’s shoes for GBV"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For the third year running, men have walked a few metres in women\u2019s shoes to show support for and raise awareness around gender-based violence (GBV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Saturday 25 March, Bevil Lakay was joined by Mark Rossouw, Riley Antha (14) and Ayaan Petersen (12) in the annual Walk in Heels event, held at Westgate Mall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was the Mitchell\u2019s Plain Lions Club event and follows several others held by other local clubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rossouw is the president of the Tokai Lions Club who participated in this event to show his support for the Mitchell\u2019s Plain club\u2019s event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He had already walked their own event, held in Muizenberg earlier this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Riley and Ayaan, both from Montrose Park were asked by one of the club members to support the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Riley Antha and Bevil Lakay<\/div>\n
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Lions Club members and participants <\/div>\n
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Tokai Lions president Mark Rossouw with incoming Mitchell\u2019s Plain Lions president Rashmiya Lucas.<\/div>\n
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Riley says they borrowed the two pairs of stylish heels from his grandmother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The boys say they came out to support the initiative because they believe it is a good cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked if they know anything about gender-based violence, Riley and Ayaan confidently say, yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe heard about it at school,\u201d says Ayaan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd we have personally seen it happen already in our community,\u201d says Riley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They both agree it is a cause they will support again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is uncomfortable and my feet are sore,\u201d says Riley. \u201cBut I will do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lakay, regional chairperson for region E, says this initiative remains close to his heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe purpose of this is for the male participants of our clubs to walk in heels and feel how uncomfortable it is. Gender-based violence is rife in our society,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rashmiya Lucas also wore heels in support. <\/div>\n
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Club member Geraldine Young with Ayaan Petersen. <\/div>\n
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The event not only raises awareness, but also raises funds for the Lions Club International Foundation that does a lot of disaster relief globally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants walked 50m in heels on a red carpet rolled out at the mall. Locals could sponsor a participant with R50, or enter to do the walk themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jean Jacobs, Mitchell\u2019s Plain Lions Club president says: \u201cI am extremely proud of the men and boys who took part in this initiative. Walk in Heels is something very dear to my heart. There are so many women, children that are faced with gender-based violence daily, and often as women, we say men don\u2019t take a stand. It was awesome to see the men in our lives walking in a women\u2019s shoes to raise awareness on gender-based violence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continuing this initiative for the years to come is something Jacobs hopes, as the scourge of gender violence affects everyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGender-based violence affects all of us. If not you as a woman or girl, it affects someone you know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • To learn more about the club and their other charity initiatives and events, visit Lions Club of Mitchells Plain on Facebook, or email mitchellsplainlionsclub@gmail.com<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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