5th annual Walk a Mile in My Shoes

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – It’s domestic violence awareness month and the community is showing their support.

The 5th annual Walk a Mile in My Shoes was held downtown Monday night. Over 20 local celebrities, who were nominated by the community to participate, strutted down Main Street in the opposite gender’s shoes in front of judges. Victim Advocate, Dorothy Thomas, said their goal is to bring awareness to the victims of domestic violence.

“I think it’s important because too many people judge, they’re very judgmental and they always want to ask and they’re like, ‘well they must like it’. Nobody likes to be abused,” said Thomas. “There’s just way too many reasons people can’t just get out of the situation.”

Thomas said there was a guest speaker who inspired the crowd with her story of domestic abuse. She said being there and supporting someone you know who is a victim of domestic violence goes a long way.

“There’s always help out there,” Thomas explained. “So even though they tell you they’re going to take your children, they’re going to report you to the welfare office, they’re going to do whatever they can, they’re going to come kill you, there’s help out there.”

The female winners were Janet Long, Stacie Curtis and Mollie Crooks and the male winners were George Bates, Adam Rothermel and Seth Vensil. All of the proceeds raised during the auction will go back to the domestic violence shelter.