April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. In this edition of Break the Cycle we look at a special event that highlights awareness of this problem.

It's an event that takes a rather humorous approach to what, in fact, is a very serious subject. This year it's targeting men.

    "Hah...this is uncomfortable. I don't know how you ladies do it."

Police Lieutenant Dave Parker doesn't ordinarily wear women's shoes. But he plans to on Friday when he marches with other men in an event called Walk a Mile in Her Shoes. It is an event designed to help break the cycle of sexual assault and bring awareness to the problem.

"This is just a humorous way that S.T.A.R., Standing Together Against Rape, is

bringing attention to a very serious problem here in Alaska. And that is the problem of sexual assault. So the discomfort we feel in women's shoes is nothing compared to what the victims of sexual assault feel when they go through that kind of experience," said Keeley Olson of S.T.A.R.

The walk will be done indoors on the UAA campus. And yes, men are encouraged to wear heels, but the main idea is to show support for bringing our very high numbers of sexual assault down.

"I think for 24 years running we have had the highest rate in the nation. And our theme is: it's really time to bring it down and we want men to take an active part and take an active role in sexual assault awareness throughout the community," said Lieutenant Parker of the Anchorage Police Department.

One place trying to help meet that goal is Mad Myrna's. The downtown bar has partnered with S.T.A.R. to collect women's shoes for the walk--in large sizes.

"If people have shoes that are size 10 or 11, we'd be glad to accept them. And we open at four in the afternoon; if they'd like to bring them in, we'd be glad to take them and bring them to S.T.A.R." said Olson.

Organizers hope the turnout will be big and the message will be strong: that sexual assault will not be tolerated.

"We'll never eliminate the problem, but we certainly would like to be less than number one in the nation," said Lieutenant Parker.

Everyone is invited to the opening ceremonies for Sexual Assault Awareness Week. Those take place Friday (April 4, 2008) at the UAA campus at 1 p.m. The Men's March is right after that.

If you'd like specific information about all the events throughout the week, you can click below:

To contact Lauren, call 907-273-3186.

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