Dress for Success River Cities will host the second annual Power Walk, 5K Run and Stiletto Stroll on Saturday, September 20, at Ritter Park in Huntington. On-site registration is open at 7:00 a.m. The race will begin at 8:00 a.m. in front of the park shelter. The Stiletto Stroll, where men compete in a 50-yard dash in high heels to represent the difficult journey disadvantaged women face on their way towards sustaining employment. This crowd favorite will take place immediately following the race.
Each mile of the Power Walk and 5K Run will represent one of three phases that Dress for Success River Cities’ clients experience during their journey to professional success: from being “unemployed and searching”, to “recently employed and adjusting” and finally, to “gainfully employed and succeeding”.
T-shirts will be provided to the first 150 registered participants. Awards will be given to the overall top male and female finishers, as well as the top three finishers in nine different age divisions.
“Participants will be supporting our women on their journey to financial sustainability,” said Lisa Martin, Dress for Success River Cities’ Board President. “The funds raised will support the programs that allow us to fulfill our mission of providing the disadvantaged women of the area the professional attire, a network of support and career development tools to help them thrive in work and in life.”
“We teach our clients that it’s not about where they’ve been, it’s about where they’re going, and that’s what this event represents,” adds Christina Ward, Dress for Success River Cities’ Executive Director. “Having the community involved in a powerful way is important because it shows that we can make a vast difference in combating the rising problem of unemployment in the tri-state area.”
Interested participants can register online at TriStateRacer.com as an Individual Walker / runner for $20. Students can sign up for $10, and those that are interesting in supporting Dress for Success River Cities but cannot attend the event can register as a Virtual Walker for $10. Team participation is encouraged and dogs are also allowed for a $5 fee.
The Power Walk, 5k Run and Stiletto Stroll are sponsored locally by DirecTV; Highmark West Virginia; Tram Construction; Eric B. Anderson, Attorney-at-Law; Dutch Miller Kia; St. Mary’s Medical Center and Tyler Mountain Water. National sponsors include Cintas, resource® Natural Spring Water and Skinnygirl Daily. Additional opportunities are available by contacting Dress for Success River Cities at (304) 522-3011.
