They came, they froze, they got wet – and they stumbled around.
But the Heels for Hospital event was a huge success this year, leaving organizer Hope Robertson ecstatic.
She said on Saturday morning at the Rotary Park during high winds and driving rain that she and Carolyn Schiestel and Susan Rawn founded the event as a unique way to raise funds for area hospitals. Instead of just walking in a walkathon, many participants walk in high heels.
In the first two years of the event, they raised a total of $9,000.
By Saturday morning in Clifford, with fiercely cold weather adding to the walk, Robertson was pleased to report pledges she knew about had already reached $5,000 for this year’s event.
On Monday she said that figure climbed to $8,000 – nearly matching the results of the first two years.
There was a lot of stumbling going on, too.
Minto Mayor George Bridge, with patterned socks and an open-toed pair of high heels, carefully put them on while sitting on a picnic table in the shelter at Rotary Park.
“These are [councillor] Mary-Lou Colwell’s,” he said, waggling a high heeled foot. “She wouldn’t give me a pledge unless I wore these heels.”
Bridge said he tapped other councillors as well – at least those that were unable to attend.
He managed to raise $255 between the Tuesday afternoon at council when he promised Robertson he would attend, and the event on Saturday morning.
Robertson said 25 walkers in total came to the park to walk, a figure she felt is impressive, given the miserable weather.
Dr. Michael Kam, of Mapleton, had promised to walk in drag if $1,000 was raised, and he reached that figure quickly.
He showed up resplendent in high heels, but a medical emergency called him away to the hospital.
“We were happy to have him,” Robertson said. She added that W.C Smith, of Clifford, also donated $750.
The money was presented that day to the CKNX annual radiothon that raises cash each year for area hospitals within its broadcast area.
That event celebrated its tenth anniversary this year.
