Published: September 11, 2008 07:27 am      

Stiletto sprint set to support March of Dimes

If you don’t think the 50-yard dash is much of a race, trying doing it in heels.

That is exactly what Lin Hitchcock and Melissa Washmon, co-chairs of the Woodward March for Babies, are asking Woodward area residents to do to help raise money for the March of Dimes and the health of all babies.

On Sept. 20, during the Woodward Main Street Hometown Festival, the Woodward March for Babies is sponsoring a “Stiletto Sprint,” in which contestants will race 50-yards while wearing heels that are three inches high or higher.

Washmon borrowed the idea for the Stiletto Sprint from the “Live with Regis and Kelly” talk show when Kelly Ripa recently held her own high-heeled race in Central Park as part of the show’s own efforts to raise money for the March of Dimes.

From her understanding, Washmon said the idea developed after Ripa allegedly “claimed she could race better in heels than in sneakers.”

“That was the running joke, I guess,” she said, no pun intended.

After seeing the response to Ripa’s race, Washmon said she “decided it was something we could do.”

Hitchcock agreed that the race sounded like a good idea, especially after learning that another March for Babies group in Oklahoma held a similar race.

“It’s a fun, different thing to do to get more people interested in the March,” she said, noting that all the proceeds from registration fees will go to the March for Babies.

In addition to paying a registration fee, contestants must also be at least 18-years-old and sign a waiver to participate in the race, Hitchcock said.

However, there is no gender requirement, she said, noting that men are welcome to participate as long as they wear the heels.

“The more the merrier,” Hitchcock said.

“It might be fun to see a couple of guys out there running in heels,” Washmon said.

Whether you want to participate or just want to watch all the high-heeled hijinks, Hitchcock and Washmon said everyone is invited to the race, which is set for 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 20.

Everyone is also invited out to the March for Babies Walk which is set for 5 p.m. this Saturday at Cedar Heights Elementary.

For more information about the March for Babies Walk, Stiletto Sprint or how you can get involved, contact Washmon at (580) 256-7425 or Hitchcock at (580) 256-5523.