Take a Walk With Me

...a shoeless walk, that is.



Once again this year, I'll be going barefoot for a day on April 8th for TOMS Shoes "One Day Without Shoes." This day is meant to spread awareness of the impact a single pair of shoes can have in the life of a child. A few facts:

• Most children in developing countries grow up barefoot.In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to school, clean water and to seek medical help.
• Often, children are not allowed to attend school barefoot.
• Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection, including Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.
• In Ethiopia alone, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis.
• Podoconiosis is 100% preventable with basic foot hygiene and wearing shoes.

So how can going barefoot help? It's simply about spreading awareness. You go barefoot, maybe get your firends to go barefoot, and it gives all of you an opportunity to tell people about Podoconiosis and how you can help prevent it (umm... one easy and fashionable way - buy a pair of TOMS!)

Last year I walked barefoot for a day and it was an experience I will always remember. For one thing, it was gross. By the end of the day you could scrape layers of black off the bottom of my feet. And it hurt. My soft feet seemed to pick up everything, and were so tender after walking on the scorching streets and sidewalks on that sunny day. It was also humbling. As I walked downt the street and into establishments people stared at me. A lot. Some laughed, others gave me looks of disgust, and a few asked questions. Finally, it made me realize how little I know about having a tough life. As I sat on the edge of the bathtub that evening and watched the day's grime wash down the drain, I thought about how little my microscopic experience without shoes compared to someone who actually LIVED that on a daily basis. And my desire to help skyrocketed.

The most important part of the day, though, was the conversations I got to have. I was repeatedly asked why I wasn't wearing shoes, and it gave me the opportunity to talk to people about TOMS, poverty, social change, and making a better world. A good day, indeed.

So... what do you say? If you're going to walk barefoot, I'd love to know!

Register to go one day without shoes at http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/ and learn more about the TOMS story at http://www.tomsshoes.com/