If you see a bunch of men in T-shirts and red high-heel shoes marching around the Athens town square four times this summer during the Fiddler's Reunion, relax. It's for a good cause. Donna Johnson, director of outreach for the East Texas Crisis Center in Athens, appealed to the Cedar Creek Lake Rotary Club last week for help in denouncing rape, sexual assault and other violence against women. To that end, her organization is sponsoring "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" on Saturday, June 1, on the Athens Town Square. Teams of at least five men donating a total of $500 are being sought for participation. The lake Rotary Club tentatively agreed to participate at its meeting March 29, pending board approval, and the names of five men to participate were nominated. Some women nominated their husbands, and one man nominated his son. Club president Kathi Nailling said she planned to challenge the Athens Rotary Club to participate also. "It's a very worthwhile cause, and I think we should get involved," Nailling said. "It's also a fun event." The crisis center will provide the T-shirts and shoes, which are being ordered from a company that makes high-heel shoes especially for men. "In order to keep the integrity of the event, we are requiring all of the men to wear red high heels because that signifies the march," Johnson said. Johnson said she has already received promises of participation from the Athens Fire Department, Henderson County Sheriff Ray Nutt, Henderson County District Attorney Scott McKee, County Judge Richard Sanders, the First State Bank, Crimestoppers, Euless Chief of Police Ken Holder, Log Cabin Police Department, First Baptist Church of Tool, The Monitor, Athens Daily Review, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners' husbands and others. "We have had a lot of great men who have come out and volunteered for us through the years," Johnson said. "It's important for the community to be aware of what is going on." Johnson said the crisis center serves about 250 new victims every year, and it provides ongoing services for another estimated 225. "Whenever you are working with victims, it is not something that can be remedied in a few weeks," Johnson said. "It takes months and sometimes years." Johnson said 60 percent of the victims serviced by the crisis center come from the Cedar Creek Lake area. The isolation of women in some of the rural areas contributes to the prevalence, she said. Deadline for registration is April 15, and the deadline for turning in the sponsorship money is May 15. For information contact Donna Johnson at 903-675-2137. Donna Johnson is pictured below.