FSN was grateful to all the supporters and sponsors and said they will definitely be staging another similar activity, possibly in October 2013 when they'll be targeting at least 100 persons and a greater number of men who would take on the challenge of running all dressed up in women's apparel. In photograph are the organisers and sponsors. Photo: VINO

This morning’s activity was staged by the Family Support Network (FSN) as a fund raising and education drive to support the continuation of the works of the FSN. Photo: VINO

No doubt baby Madison Smith hopped in and out of the stroller, walk and ran to successfully make it to the finishing line. Photo: VINO

Sophie was the 1st of two pet dogs to complete the 5k run this morning. Photo: VION

Chris Ghiorse stuck to the game from start to finish making it accross the finishing line with all his female apparels well in tact as he started. He was the 2nd male dressed in female apparel to have crossed the finishing line. Photo: VINO

George Davies took a well deserved 1st place in the 5k run ending his run with a steaming 100 metre dash to the tape. Photo: VINO.

Clifton Forbes coming in 1st from the two-mile run at this morning's 'run a mile in her clothe' FSN fundraiser. Photo: VINO

The turn out at this morning's FSN fundraiser was well supported by a wide cross section of persons including men, women, children and pets. Photo: VINO

Pets were also encouraged to be a part of the fund raiser and these two dogs registered and participated. Photo: VINO

The men who dared to take the challenge of dressing in women's apparel staged a great show and put on a strong competition among themselves. Photo: VINO

Governor of the Virgin Islands Mr William B. McCleary turned up in a garland of pink feathers with his dog wearing a purple bow tie to support the event. Photo: VINO

FSN's President Ms Judith Charles pins one of the runners at this morning's fundraising run. Photo: VINO

The prize for the best dressed man in women's apparel went the mystry man in white. He has choosen to leave it up to the curious minds to guess his name. Photo: VINO

The race took from the FSN Office shortly after the scheduled 7 A.M. set time with some 30 persons. The challenge was a cool run for some while others did it for the fun, their usual morning exercise walk or run, while for others it was all in the name of the cause.

Governor William McCleary, who participated in the event along with his dog, did not make in to the finish line among the top 10 but said the challenge was worth the cause. He reiterated his position as Governor as it relates to the commitment to doing everything possible to stamp out violence at every level. He also said the RVIPF is also standing strong on its zero tolerance to domestic violence position.

Chris Ghiorse, who got the 2nd place prize for the male dressed in women apparel, was the 2nd male dressed in women apparel to cross the finish line. He underscored the activity as a fun-filled one and said the one lesson he sure did learn being dressed as a woman, "It really hit home how women have to have careful techniques when bending to pick up something when they are wearing a short dress or skirt." He said for him the 'beating' word should only be applied to competitions "and there is no competition that I know of that involves beating on a woman so its something I cannot figure out how men do it but my participation here this morning is to call on my men folk to stop the violence and express the frustrations in the many other available means." 

The 1st Female crossing the finish line was Maria Mays, 1st child was Stefano Tasking, 1st pet was Sophie and 1st tot was little Madison Smith.

FSN was grateful to all the supporters and sponsors and said they will definitely be staging another similar activity, possibly in October 2013 when they'll be targeting at least 100 persons and a greater number of men who would take on the challenge of running all dressed up in women's apparel.

See previous story posted on May 4, 2013:

Men running in women’s apparel in support of fight against domestic violence

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – To some it might be funny but to others it may just be of significant importance especially women who are victims of some form of domestic violence. The idea is in a fun way of having the men of society attempt to put themselves in the place of women to feel her frustrations and pains in the seat she sits in as a woman.

There is no doubt that in actuality a man will be a man and a woman a woman but the idea is to show that each is to compliment the other and as such should love and cherish each other in a violence free environment. When those bold men opted to take on the challenge this morning by participating in the fund raising drive by running some distances while wearing a piece or full outfit of a women’s apparel they are simply saying to their fellow men, “Put yourself in her place for a moment and tell me if you would be comfortable being abused.”

This morning’s activity was staged by the Family Support Network (FSN) as a fund raising and education drive to support the continuation of the works of the FSN. According to President of FSN Ms Judith Charles they are in dire needs of sustainable funds to meet the growing needs of women and children who are victims of some form of domestic violence. She said that funding has been a challenge of recent and this is occurring at a time when more women are coming forward for support.

The idea of the ‘Run a mile in her clothe’ was fashioned from a similar promotion which was done by a similar group in the USA that saw funds being raised by men ‘Walking a mile in her shoe’. “We know it’s not easy to walk in women’s shoes so we decided to go a little light on our men and ask them to run a mile in her clothe.”

Ms Charles was a guest speaker at a recent breakfast meeting of the Rotary Sunrise Club of Tortola when she spoke at length about what FSN does and how vital of an organization it is to the community and appealed for support by participation in the fundraising drive and any other initiative as may seem fitting to the club. This led to the club's appeal to its membership and supporters, “Men (fathers, brothers, sons, uncles, grandfathers even) show your support against domestic violence by wearing an article of women’s clothing. Women, children and pets are all welcome to run!”
The exercise was scheduled to start at 7:00am in front of the Family Support Network ("FSN") office where it is also ended.

FSN provided purple ribbons and some purple feathered Boas for the brave men to wear, that’s if they are brave enough! Prizes were to be awarded for outfits. Persons are running 2 miles. Update on the activity will be posted soon.