By irene maslowski
On Saturday, May 18 in Lebanon (Clinton Township, Hunterdon County), N.J., teams of men age 18 and over will strap on assorted styles of women’s shoes to raise awareness and funds for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in the first annual Men In Heels Relay. The event is coordinated by volunteers with support from Basecamp31 and all proceeds will benefit SAFE in Hunterdon and the women, men and children the organization serves in the county. The event is free to all spectators.
Men In Heels is scheduled to take place at 10:00 a.m. on May 18 — rain or shine — at BaseCamp31, home of Pro-Activity and the Fuel Good Cafe, at 1250 Route 31, Lebanon, N.J. For the relay/walk event, each participant on the all-male teams will be completing a short course of approximately 100 yards total in heeled shoes provided by event organizers. There will be no stilettos, and safety will be emphasized in this friendly competition, organized in two team heats, with the winning team advancing to the next round.
"Men In Heels is a unique, community-building event that was initiated to address very serious issues in a lighthearted way, while bringing men into the conversation," said Leanne McGowan, Event Organizer.
Registered teams include volunteer coaches from the Hunterdon Lions Track Club [team name: “Hot on Our Heels”], clergymen, first responders, and employees of area businesses, such as Loew Orthodontics, Clinton Shop-Rite, and Healthy U Fitness, with several others forming. However, according to Sue Vanderoef, Event Co-Organizer, “We still need more men to get involved, so we can really make a positive difference for SAFE in Hunterdon and the communities they serve.”
Teams are encouraged to raise $500 or more ($100 per team member) and community members will have the opportunity to donate to their favorite relayer(s) and/or team(s) online through 5/18 and on the day of the event.
Also for relay participants, there’s good news: being a good sport is more important than athletic ability. In addition to trophies being awarded to the top three teams that finish as Gold, Silver and Bronze relay finalists, trophies will be awarded for ‘Most Team Spirit’, ‘Most Creative Outfits’ and ‘Most Donations Raised’ (for first and second place). Trophies are being created by a Clinton artist who prefers to remain anonymous until her designs are unveiled at the event.
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"Whether you’re a relayer, sponsor or fan cheering on the sidelines, Men In Heels is about our community coming together to take an important step forward in the fight against gender-based violence," said McGowan.
"We are so grateful to Basecamp 31 and the tireless volunteers for coordinating this event to support our life-changing work," said Donna Bartos, Executive Director, SAFE in Hunterdon. "The Men in Heels event will raise awareness and funds for our local domestic and sexual abuse intervention and prevention efforts. The teams of men participating in this inaugural Men in Heels Relay are our heroes," Bartos added. "We hope that the children, youth and families who attend will be inspired to ‘continue the conversation’ at home — and SAFE in Hunterdon will be on hand on relay day with information that addresses how we can help break the cycle and stop abuse for everyone."
Men In Heels event sponsors include Great Clips Salon of Clinton and Flemington, Groendyke Associates of Califon, Divine Health LLC of Lebanon, Sneakers Plus of Flemington, Loumarc Signs of Somerville, Creative Body Works Therapies of Readington Township, and Frank’s Italian Restaurant of Clinton.
REGISRATION DETAILS/DEADLINE: The registration fee for each participant is $25, which includes shoes and event t-shirt. The fee is PAYABLE ONLINE and due as soon as possible or by April 26. Teams are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and team registration forms are due by April 26. Also, each team member must complete a liability waiver/release form prior to the beginning of the race.
ADDITIONAL QUOTES/Information:
· Dave Folsom, Hunterdon Lions Track Coach: "Men In Heels is a fun way to raise money and awareness about a very serious issue that exists right here in Hunterdon County. It’s also a natural tie-in to the youth track club that is coached by our Men In Heels relay team. The kids should enjoy watching their coaches act a little silly and, perhaps, appreciate the importance of getting involved and giving back to the community."
· Eric Eisenhart, Chairman of BaseCamp 31 (a non-profit whose mission is to foster healthy community and personal development through shared experiences): "I’m anticipating an outstanding inaugural event on May 18, with a lot of smiling faces at our facility. With this BaseCamp 31 event to benefit SAFE in Hunterdon, we’re continuing to help our community members when they most need our support."
· McGowan, Vanderoef and Eisenhart wanted to create an adventurous fundraiser that involves local youth and adult running clubs. The event’s Volunteer Coordinator, Hannah McGowan, is a student member of the North Hunterdon High School track team who is actively recruiting volunteers from the girls’ and boys’ track teams.
CONTACT US: For more information, to register as a relay participant or form a team, to become a sponsor or make a donation, or to volunteer, please visit www.basecamp31.com/men-in-heels-relay or contact (call or text): Leanne McGowan at (908) 337-4753, Hannah McGowan at (908) 310-6584 or Sue Vanderoef at (908) 285-0846.
About SAFE in Hunterdon
SAFE in Hunterdon has been serving victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse for more than 30 years. Working with individuals and families touched by domestic violence and sexual assault, SAFE in Hunterdon seeks to empower child and adult victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, while collaborating with our community to prevent violence and create positive social change.
About Pro-Activity/Base Camp 31
Started in 1998 by sibling Physical Therapists Amy Weller and Michael Eisenhart, Pro-Activity has grown organically from a small Physical Therapy practice, into full-service "human achievement" company focused on providing clients the information and coaching required to meet and exceed their health and performance goals. With services including workplace wellness programs, athletic performance & fitness training, physical therapy, and their eat-in Fuel Good Cafe, Pro-Activity is focused on helping clients to "Achieve the Extraordinary" in their life.
