The Center for Health Education and Wellness will host the second annual Hike the Hill in Heels on Friday, April 1, to kick off a series of events for Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April. All events hosted throughout the month aim to raise awareness about sexual assault and the effect it has on women, men, families, college campuses, and the greater community.
On-site registration will begin at 2:00 p.m., and the hike will begin at 3:00 p.m., Friday, April 1.
The hike will begin at the Europa fountain next to Humanities Plaza and end at Ayres Hall.
Students, faculty and staff, and the local community are invited to participate in the hike as individuals or with a team of friends, classmates, or coworkers. Everyone is encouraged, but not required, to wear heels for the hike.
The event is free, but participants are encouraged to tackle any of these four challenges before or after the hike:
Assemble a team: The team with the most participants will be awarded a trophy at the conclusion of the hike.
Raise money: Money raised will be donated to the Sexual Assault Center of East Tennessee, a local nonprofit whose mission is to provide services for survivors of sexual assault and to empower communities through education and social change. Supporters may donate to an individual or team’s fundraising efforts. The individual or team raising the most money will receive a high-heel sculpture to display in their area.
Participants may also donate women’s clothing items that will go to the Sexual Assault Center of East Tennessee. Clothing donations can be dropped off from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the event registration table. All clothing donations must be new and plain or solid with no logos or designs, and size medium through extra-large.
Decorate heels: Those who choose to decorate their shoes can enter a best-decorated heels contest and win a prize.
Walk down a catwalk in heels: The runway competition will be held on the hill outside of Ayres Hall. The best walk will be decided by a panel of judges.
The Center for Health Education and Wellness will host more than ten events throughout the remainder of April for Sexual Assault Awareness Month including intergroup dialogue lunch sessions about sexual assault prevention, active bystander training sessions, consent and healthy relationship programs, and a Light the Way celebration.