One Day Without Shoes Today!

One Day Without Shoes is today! Loose those shoes, kick off those kicks, and go barefoot to raise awareness for those who go without shoes everyday. More than two billion people, that’s 40 percent of the world, walk without shoes each day. That means more than are at risk from cuts and sores that can lead to serious infections if not treated properly. Children are often not allowed to attend school without shoes, something so simple as a pair of shoes can mean the difference between a child receiving an education or not. In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podoconiosis#Causes. The reality is that Podoconiosis is 100% preventable by wearing shoes. What would you do to prevent someone from a life time of suffering?

If you are debating whether to take your shoes off for a day, for a class or even an hour, then draw strength from the alarming number of people who live without this luxury each day. Walk barefoot with pride knowing that with each step you take, you raise awareness for billions around the world, not only making their lives more comfortable, but saving them as well.

Join us and others from around the Rockville, Maryland area in walking one mile barefoot to raise awareness today at 11am outside the Old Red Brick Courthouse, 29 Courthouse Square Rockville, Maryland 20850. Bring your friends and family!

Follow us on Twitter @RockBarefoot for the latest from the walk.

Weather Tomorrow

I know the weather has been on everyone's mind recently, even mine. Lucky for us the weatherman is calling for sunny skies and a high of 62 degrees tomorrow. The walk will still go as planned rain or shine. Today's constant drizzle has not dampened my spirits, look on the bright side the rain has washed everything clean for our bare feet tomorrow!

Attention Students!

Today I met with Richard Montgomery High School principal, Dr. McLeod, to discuss the possibility of the students to leave the school grounds during their lunch period and participate in the "One Day Without Shoes" walk. He was very receptive to the idea and, in fact, he encouraged it. However, he cannot allow students to leave the campus without parental permission.
Students attending Richard Montgomery High School just need to visit http://tinyurl.com/cnmsn9 and download the permission form, have it signed and returned to the main office before you leave school on Thursday. We, also, have a permission slip available to students who attend Clarksburg High School http://bit.ly/bcB6Q.
A handwritten note signed by your parent works just as well.

Students attending other schools can simply have their parents write a note permitting them to participate.

How can you help?

Recently I was asked a very simple question by a friend, "How can I help?" I've got the easy to do answer.

• First and foremost make sure you attend the walk!
• Second invite all your friends and family (via Facebook, Twitter, email, texts, word of mouth, etc.).
  
• Third put up posters for the walk coming up in 3 days!! Follow this link http://i44.tinypic.com/5kg7zp.jpg, download the image, print out lots of copies of the flyers and post them all over, in your house, in the local library, on a public bulletin board (Panera, Starbucks, and Giant Supermarkets among others often have these). Be creative! Let us know either through email at onedaywithoutshoesmd@gmail.com or on our Twitter @RockBarefoot of your efforts.
• Fourth buy a pair of TOMS shoes or wrap boots. For every pair you buy, TOMS gives a pair away to a person in need. One for One. Ecomony got you down? Use the promo code: CAMPUSHTS and recieve $5 off your order. Just a little something for being so great!

I can't wait to see you all this Thursday at 11am. Bring a friend or two with you a come prepared to walk barefoot. We will have a bin out so if you do come with shoes you can leave them in the bin and it will be magically transported via car to our ending destination.

Happy posting,
+mike

A lot of stuff going on beind the scenes

Hey Guys & Gals,

I want to welcome all our new followers on twitter and those who are subscribed to our feeds, I am excited to have you guys as a part of One Day Without Shoes Rockville and please help us by getting the word out in your own status updates, tweets, and blogs. Thank you soooo much in advance. =]

I know it has been a little quite the last few days, but we have had a lot going on behind the scenes here at One Day Without Shoes Rockville and I want to push an update to everyone.

• First off we have officially be added to the TOMS Shoes One Day Without Shoes event list located at http://media.tomsshoes.com/oneday under the Maryland subsection. Check it out and also let all of your friends know about the official One Day Without Shoes page so if they aren't going to be in the Rockville area they can find a One Day Without Shoes event in their local area.


• Second, we have an event page up on Yahoo's service Upcoming at http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/2299250/. If you or your friends and family use Upcoming go ahead and add yourself and invite all your friends to come as well.


• Third, We have had this link up on the Facebook event page for sometime but I didn't realize it wasn't here too. The proposed route from the Old Red Brick Courthouse to the middle of the Rockville Town Square can be viewed via Google Maps at: http://tinyurl.com/daywithoutshoes. It gives you a visual sense of the route we will be taking and a good idea of where you can park to minimize walking if you already know the Rockville area. If you are not familiar with the Rockville area keep and eye out in the next couple of days, I will be getting more information out soon about good transportation options (i.e.: car, taxi, bus, metro, train) and where to park if you are planning on driving.

Email!

Hey Guys & Gals

I want to let you know we have an email set up, it's onedaywithoutshoesmd@gmail.com. Feel free to send us your questions, comments or general inquiries. We would love to hear from you.

Also don't forget that we are on Twitter & Facebook.
Follow us at http://twitter.com/daywithoutshoes
Find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=60566614058

On April 16th, TOMS Shoes is inspiring individuals across the world to leave their shoes at the door for ONE day, ONE hour, ONE minute in an effort to bring attention to the impact a simple pair of shoes can have on one’s life.

Walking is the primary mode of transportation in developing countries, and children often have to walk miles to get food, water or medical help. Without shoes, they are subject to cuts, infection and soil-transmitted diseases that can drastically affect their lives.

Join me, Michael Moubarek, a campus rep for TOMS Shoes and others from the Rockville area on April 16th at 11am for a one mile walk from the steps of the Old Red Brick Courthouse to the Rockville Town Square. Leave your shoes at home or on the steps of the Courthouse and walk with us.

The proposed route from the Old Red Brick Courthouse to the middle of the Rockville Town Square can be viewed via Google Maps at: http://tinyurl.com/daywithoutshoes

Pledge your support of One Day Without Shoes by texting “PLEDGE” to 75309



If your not in the Rockville, Maryland area please check out the official TOMS Shoes One Day Without Shoes Event http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=58596268482 to find an event in your area.

About TOMS Shoes

TOMS Shoes was inspired by an Argentine shoe with a hundred year history and the continent's poverty and health issues, TOMS was created with a singular mission: To make life more comfortable. TOMS accomplishes this through it's ultra lightweight design and the company's commitment to match every pair purchased with a donated pair to a child in need...there are no complicated formulas, it's simple.you buy a pair of TOMS and the company gives a pair to a child on your behalf. The vibrant colors and patterns in the debut collection depict Blake Mycoskie's life changing experiences in his travels to South America where he embraced the lifestyle wholeheartedly and therefore gave back by creating TOMS - shoes for Tomorrow.