Coaches Walk a Mile in Her (Pink and Red) Shoes
From Stuart Kaufman, Sports Information: Pumps or heels, casual or formal? That’s the question many men will be pondering as they get set to participate in the Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention’s Third Annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes: The Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault, and Gender Violence on Saturday, April 18, in Keene.
Keene State men’s basketball coach Rob Colbert, who is co-chairing the event with Rob Noyes of Cheshire Tire and Noyes Volkswagen, has recruited several members of the KSC community, including many of his coaching peers, to join him on the walk. “We’ve had a lot of fun contacting different members of the college community, raising excitement, and, more importantly, raising awareness about this issue,” said Colbert. “It’s been astounding to me how much money we’ve been able to raise and the positive comments people have given us.”
The walk begins at 10 a.m. at Keene State’s Young Student Center and will head down Main Street to Railroad Square in downtown Keene. Check-in, t-shirt sale/handouts, and sign distribution begins at 9 a.m.
Colbert won’t be hard to spot in the crowd. Looking to make a fashion statement and wear his KSC colors proudly, he has chosen a pair of gleaming red shoes for the walk. “The shoes are a women’s size 13, so they’re still very, very tight,” he said. “We do have medical personnel ready for blister care.”
John Ratliff, Keene State’s Director of Athletics, and men’s soccer coach Ron Butcher will join Colbert on the walk. Ratliff decided to go with the casual look. “My wife Kathy picked out my shoes, a pair of pink sandals,” he said. “They’re appropriate for the occasion and the easiest to walk in.”
Coach Butcher is still weighing his options. “I know I won’t be walking in stilettos because I’d fall over, so I need something with a low heel,” he said. “I’m going to do some shopping and hopefully find something that’s a little daring and springy. I want us to stand out.”
People interested in participating in the walk can sign up online. If you are unable to walk but would like to donate, you can do so at www.firstgiving.com/robcolbert. “I think it’s important for people to see members of the Keene State community let their hair down and do something a little bit out of their comfort zone to raise awareness and get people talking about this very worthy cause,” Colbert said.
