Soles4Souls Canada is asking Kelowna residents to ditch their shoes in a fundraiser that will help bring footwear to others in need.
The inaugural Barefoot on the Boardwalk takes place Saturday, July 19 at 1 p.m. at the Jubilee Bowl in City Park.
Those involved will walk two kilometres along the City Park boardwalk to the bear statue in Stuart Park, and then back to the Jubilee Bowl.
Participants are asked to get out their paintbrushes and decorate their feet for the event.
“We’re encouraging people to come down with painted feet,” said Jim Belshaw, chair of Soles4Souls Canada.
“The wilder, the crazier, the more colourful, the better.”
Prizes will give given out for the most creatively decorated feet and for those who raise the most money through pledges.
“Basically, for every dollar that we raise, we can put a pair of shoes on somebody,” said Belshaw.
“So what we’re asking people to do is get 10 pledges of $10 and that will equal 100 pairs of shoes.”
Registration for the event is $20 per person or $100 for teams of six.
Those interested can register online at soles4soulscanada.com or in person at Roy’s Shoes, 1627 Ellis St., House of Caribbean Food, 557 Bernard Ave. or Prospera Credit Union, 2106 Harvey Ave. or 3151 Lakeshore Rd.
According to Belshaw, several individuals who will be travelling to Haiti with Soles4Souls Canada next year will be volunteering to paint participants’ feet at the event in exchange for donations.
“The donations will go toward their travel expenses.”
That group, dubbed Travel4Souls, will also be doing a car wash fundraiser Saturday, July 12, outside Nufloors Kelowna, 2121 Springfield Rd.
“You can drive in, and while you’re getting your car washed, you can register for the walk as well,” said Belshaw.
For more information, visit soles4soulscanada.com.
wpaterson@kelownacapnews.com
Twitter: @PatersonWade
