Football players, cops, and even some children put on a pair of red high heels Thursday for the 7th annual Walk a Mile in her Shoes event in Red Deer Thursday.

The international march is a fun event designed to raise awareness about the very serious causes, effects, and ways to help combat sexualized violence.

Fund Development Officer with the Central Alberta Women's Outreach Society in Red Deer Darcy Ouellet says with over 7,000 clients coming through their doors last year, fundraisers like this are key to ensuring those clients are able to receive the care they need.

“All the money goes to the 20 different programs and services that we offer at the Outreach Center from our safe visitation, monitored exchange to one of our groups, just too wherever the funds are needed.”

Ouellet says the event itself is a good fundraiser for the Society, but it also gives people a chance to learn more about what they do, and how important of a resource they are.

“A big part of this again, like I’ve always said, is the awareness, the education of what we actually do. I encourage people if you want to know, come down, we do tours all of the time… the more that we can teach people about what we do, it just opens things up when someone does need help. They don’t have to look, they already know where to go.”

Ouellet says they have a number of vital programs vital for their clients, including hosting groups that teach women about creating boundaries in order to maintain healthy relationships.

Funds raised by Walk a Mile will keep these programs going for another year.

They are hoping to raise at least $70,000 from this year's event, with the final fundraiser and registration numbers still be counted.