HOKA ONE ONE® , a division of Deckers Brands, has announced a partnership with London-based women’s homeless charity ‘A Mile in Her Shoes’ – part of the high-performance brand’s commitment to helping individuals from all backgrounds better their lives through the power of running.
HOKA – who is supporting a number of diverse individuals and organisations using running to transform their lives – will provide a pair of running shoes and a subsequent donation for all homeless women expected to benefit from the inspiring work undertaken by A Mile in Her Shoes. The charity has worked closely with hundreds of women who are at risk of homelessness since it began seven years ago and offer running as a way of exercising, engaging with others, improving confidence and boosting self esteem.
“HOKA strongly believes in the power of inclusivity and diversity to help move us all forward in life,” said Daljiat Gill, Head of Marketing for HOKA EMEA. “The work that A Mile in Her Shoes has, and continues to do, in inspiring women in difficult situations to start running and change their lives is simply incredible. We are delighted to partner with the charity and believe that by flying together, we can really raise awareness for homelessness.”
Set up in 2013, A Mile in Her Shoes seeks to identify and remove any barriers to running, enabling hundreds of vulnerable women to benefit from the same mental, physical and social benefits that running and exercise gives to any other person.
“We’re thrilled to be embarking upon this new journey with HOKA, which will enable our small charity to fulfil an important aspect of its commitment to helping women to change their lives through running and fitness,” said Nicola Miller, Chief Executive of A Mile in Her Shoes. “It’s important that our members don’t feel defined by their experiences of homelessness when it comes to our activities. We consistently receive feedback that being able to wear and keep new, appropriate clothing and footwear helps them to participate equally to others and fully, both within and beyond the sport and exercise opportunities we have to offer.”
HOKA’s financial and product support will help the charity offer quality teaching programmes and coaches in 2020, as well as source better venues for its on-going fitness sessions. The partnership will also see HOKA support A Mile in Her Shoes with coaching sessions from its running experts and athletes, whilst also raising awareness for homelessness and encouraging more people to get active to help change their lives.
A Mile in Her Shoes hosts and leads running groups through a primarily volunteer-led programme. All sessions are laid on by trained female volunteers and coaches with the qualifications to lead mixed ability groups, and, to date, the charity has helped hundreds of women since its foundation seven years ago and now engage more than 100 women per year and deliver at more than 20 women’s refuges, residential sites and day centres across London.
For more information about A Mile in Her Shoes, visit amileinhershoes.org.uk or follow @InHerShoesHQ on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For more on HOKA, visit hokaoneone.eu or follow @hokaoneone_eu on Facebook and Instagram.
