TIFTON — Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is growing into one of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s biggest known campus events in October. It is already the best-heeled.

The event, held Tuesday Oct. 24 on the front campus drive and sidewalk in front of the main sign, has men in high heels walking a mile to make a stand against domestic violence. ABAC students and athletes, as well as local law enforcement and the Tifton Fire Department joined them on the walk.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, said Nancy Bryan, executive director of Ruth’s Cottage and The Patticake House of Tifton.

“We do a lot of things this month trying to bring attention to a subject most people really don’t like to talk about,” said Bryan. “Some people may not want to admit this happens in their home, in their neighborhood, in their church, in their business, but it does.”

Earlier this month was a candlelight vigil. Bryan said 194 candles were lit for Georgians who lost their lives to domestic violence — men, women and children. Bryan said three of those deaths occurred in the local judicial circuit.

Domestic violence is a very serious subject, but she said they are able to “lighten it up, just a little bit” with Walk a Mile in Her Shoes. and while Bryan said it was funny to see men in heels, “The point is to bring attention to this subject.”

To convey the seriousness, the walkers took a pledge before they began their laps around the front drive. Chris Beckham, who emceed the start of the walk, led the pledge. Beckham was not one of the individuals wearing heels; Bryan said she did not believe there were shoes available to fit him.

There were shoes for everyone else. Ruth’s Cottage and The Patticake House provide the heels each year, available in women’s sizes 10 and larger. Selections ranged from wedges to stiletto heels, available in a variety of colors and styles.

Many held signs along the way, some by men participating and others by men and women around the start/finish line. Messages included, “Caution: Men in High Heels,” “It Is Just 1 Mile Guys,” and “Men Against Domestic Violence.”

Walkers pledged to be part of the solution, and to make a stand and confront domestic violence and sexual assault. They also pledged to be part of a community that does not tolerate intimate partner violence, and to further their knowledge in understanding domestic violence.

Beckham also had tips for the participants. “This is not a race,” he said. That advice was not heeded by some of the baseball players, especially those who quickly found themselves comfortable running in heels. Most, however, took a slow and steady pace for their three laps.

He had pointers on posture. “Keep your shoulders back, your spine tall, your chest forward. Good posture will help you in this event.”

“Point your feet forward,” Beckham said. Curving feet out like a duck was not the way to do it, he said. “Also, for you tall guys like me … shorten your strides. Long strides get you rides to the hospital.” ABAC had nursing professionals available to tend to walkers in case of injury, but fortunately they were not needed. There was one heel blowout at the finish line and another man appeared to briefly cramp from his stilettos.