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Hundreds participate in Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event in Greensburg to raise sexual assault awareness | TribLIVE.com
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Hundreds participate in Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event in Greensburg to raise sexual assault awareness

Shane Dunlap
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Greensburg Salem High School sophomore Azreal Franklin runs in red high heels as he participates in the 12th annual one-mile walk for the Blackburn Center’s Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in downtown Greensburg.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Participants walk during the 12th annual Westmoreland County Walk A Mile in Her Shoes event on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in downtown Greensburg.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Members of the Greensburg Salem varsity football team walk in high heels during the 12th annual Westmoreland County Walk A Mile in Her Shoes event on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in downtown Greensburg.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Pitt-Greensburg third year student John Tomasic crosses the street in red high heels while participating with fellow classmates in the 12th annual Westmoreland County Walk A Mile In Her Shoes on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in downtown Greensburg.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Participants walk during the 12th annual Westmoreland County Walk A Mile in Her Shoes event Saturday, April 15, 2023 in downtown Greensburg.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Seton Hill University offensive lineman and senior Kai Marshall, walks in high heels in downtown Greensburg on Saturday, April 15, 2023 for the 12th annual Westmoreland County Walk A Mile In Her Shoes.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Members of the Greensburg Salem High School varsity football team, including head coach Ty George (middle) walk in red high heels during the 12th annual Westmoreland County Walk A Mile in Her Shoes Saturday, April 15, 2023 in downtown Greensburg. The annual event raises funds for the Blackburn Center and raises awareness of gender-based violence.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Seton Hill University art therapy major Bethany Rice shows guests how to apply a yarn string to a shoe design for the 12th annual Westmoreland County Walk A Mile In Her Shoes on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at St. Clair Park.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Greensburg Salem varsity football player Maxim Topper walks in high heels with his team during the 12th annual Walk A Mile in Her Shoes on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in downtown Greensburg.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Participants in the 12th annual Westmoreland County Walk A Mile In Her Shoes wait to cross the street on Saturday, April 15, 2023 during the one-mile walk in downtown Greensburg.
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photos: Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Roland Woods, assistant dean of students at Pitt-Greensburg campus, carries a sign while participating with students from the Pitt-Greensburg campus on Saturday, April 15, 2023 during the 12th annual Walk A Miles In Her Shoes at St. Clair Park in Greensburg.

The 12th annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes was held Saturday morning in St. Clair Park in downtown Greensburg.

The Blackburn Center, an organization that advocates for victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse, hosts the event each year to raise awareness about gender-based violence in Westmoreland County.

A statement from the Center said that the walk is a “call to action” to offer support to all victims and survivors, and to highlight that domestic and sexual violence can affect anyone regardless of gender, race, sexuality, religion or economic status.

Many participants, including men, walk in high heels as a symbol of challenges women often face, including being on guard against the possibility of assault, experiencing sexual harassment and dealing with the aftermath of violence. High heels were loaned to male walkers during the event.

For information, visit blackburncenter.org.

Shane Dunlap is a TribLive photographer covering Westmoreland and Allegheny counties. He grew up in the Ohio Valley near Pittsburgh and has worked for newspapers as far away as Fayetteville, N.C., where he covered the U.S. Army at Fort Liberty. He can be reached at sdunlap@triblive.com.

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