Survivor helping victims of abuse find their voice (12 photos)

It seemed only fitting the Sault’s Nicole Vinette-Slukynsky won the top individual fundraiser award at the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser in support of Women In Crisis held on the Sault Ste. Marie waterfront Saturday.

Vinette-Slukynsky raised $3,050 at the event, in which participants walked in honour of someone who has been affected by abuse and violence.

“I’m walking as a survivor,” said Vinette-Slukynsky, who was the victim of a rape two decades ago, but told family and friends of it only recently.

“It’s taken me 22 years to share my story, but I’m hopeful that in sharing it now that I can help others find their voice,” Vinette-Slukynsky told SooToday.

Fred Slukynsky, Nicole’s husband, her brother TJ Vinette and mother Donna Vinette joined Nicole to form Pumped Up, which won top team fundraising honours at Saturday’s walk.

Pumped Up raised $5,860.    

“It was about a year ago she told our family,” TJ said.

“I’m glad Nicole’s walking today and trying to get people to come forward. It’s hard to carry that alone. I hope people come forward the day something like this happens. There are lots of people there for support.”

“The purpose of this walk is to show women they’re not alone. When Nicole started telling her story, the people who rallied behind her and the support she got was really amazing,” husband Fred said.

Nicole, a local schoolteacher, was also cheered on by members of her St. Basil Catholic School class.

“I wish we could have done more but we’re going to be there for her to support her, listen to her story, and educate other people. Women In Crisis is a fantastic organization. They were able to help when I couldn’t help, because I just don’t have enough background in the trauma that goes along with it, so this organization has been absolutely amazing for her in her healing process,” Fred said.

“They’re the experts in this,” TJ said.

“We as individuals can help someone get to the right places like Women In Crisis for the support. We can talk to them as family at night, but the immediate help comes from Women In Crisis with the right information, not us guessing on what a person needs to be told.”

“I’m proud of the strength she’s had to come forward. She’s not healed, it’s always going to be there, but a huge weight has been lifted off her shoulders,” Fred said.

Female participants had their choice of footwear for the event, but all male participants, including police officers, paramedics and bikers, had to wear red high heeled female shoes.  

Fred Slukynsky told us it was “like walking in a tight pair of skates,” while TJ Vinette said it wasn’t so bad, making sure he got himself a wide sized pair of heels to walk in.

Saturday marked the first Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser for Sault Ste. Marie (held by Women In Crisis and Great Lakes Honda), while other Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraisers have been held worldwide since the event began in 2001.

152 walkers participated in Saturday’s local walk (proceeding from the Civic Centre steps, heading eastward toward the Art Gallery of Algoma and back), whether as individuals or as part of a team.

That number, and the amount of money raised, exceeded expectations.

$51,699 was raised in total, with all funds going to Women In Crisis.

The vision of Women In Crisis is to live in a society free of all forms of abuse and violence toward women and children.

“We were hoping for 75 walkers and to break even,” said Suzanne Crowell, Women In Crisis board of directors president.

Instead, the group is looking at a profit of $25,000 to $30,000 from Saturday’s walk.

Burly Heeled Men earned second place honours in terms of money raised by a team, at $3,050, followed by High Heeled Starters at $2,490 and The Summit Women at $1,435.