The Phoenix Center of Fayetteville is hosting its annual Walk Awhile event on Friday, March 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is an opportunity for men in the community to take a stand against domestic and sexual violence against women. This year’s walk will start at The Capitol Encore Academy located at 126 Hay Street and will end a few blocks down at Segra Stadium.
Registration starts at 6 p.m. in front of The Capitol Encore Academy and the walker fee is $30. Individuals can also register online at https://bit.ly/3EVE3iO. Men who need shoes can contact the Phoenix Center to schedule a fitting and pickup. These shoes go fast, so participants are encouraged to request their pair early.
Since 2009, except for a brief break during COVID, The Phoenix Center has faithfully hosted the Walk Awhile awareness event. A grand march through downtown Fayetteville of men in heels has become the beacon of hope for victims.
Deanne Gerdes, Executive Director of The Phoenix Center since 2008, said, “Walk Awhile is an event where men in the community take a stand against violence against women. The theme is to 'walk awhile in her shoes'. It is a family-friendly event where men throw on some high-heeled shoes and sashay a few blocks down Hay St during 4th Friday,” she said.
“I think the most important part of this event is what you may not realize, during the walk, there are dozens of victims cheering on from the sidewalk often amazed that strangers are willing to stand up for them, the walk is for my staff and volunteers who work tirelessly, non-stop doing really hard work to feel supported by the community and for all of us to be together to have a few laughs.”
Combating domestic and sexual violence is a community effort. From organizations like The Phoenix Center to the police department, each agency is responsible for providing and protecting the victim.
“This year it is really important, for the victims of course, but one of the things we work really hard at is our relationship with all local law enforcement in order to provide victim-centered services. That means that all of our multi-disciplinary teams need to work together on behalf of victims, and we do a great job. We recognize that each discipline has its own lane, but we are all on the same road and that is to make sure we are all meeting the needs of victims. There is no better example of the great work that can be accomplished between advocacy and law enforcement than the relationship between The Phoenix Center and the Fayetteville Police Department. Chief Braden will be leading the walk right into his retirement.”
The Phoenix Center was founded to provide support services to victims of sexual assault, with a mission to achieve zero tolerance for the crime of sexual violence and to reduce its trauma. All of the services offered by the center are free and include:
• 24-hour Crisis Hotline
• 24-hour Emergency Room Responders
• Counseling Referrals
• Support Groups
• Courtroom Advocacy
• Community Awareness
• Address Confidentiality Program
• Safety Planning
• Law Enforcement Advocacy
Support for The Phoenix Center is vital, especially now, with the number of domestic and sexual violence incidents increasing. According to a report by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations, there were 12 domestic violence-related homicides in Cumberland County in 2023 and the North Carolina Department of Administration, the Cumberland County domestic violence hotline received 994 calls in 2024. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic or sexual violence please reach out to these hotlines.
The Phoenix Center (local): 24-Hour Local Hotline: 910-485-7273
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233.