Saving Soles

I know it been a while since I last blogged. I'm sorry, its been a crazy month! And I apologize again, the following is not an original blog. I am posting a copy of an article I wrote for June's PoV Magazine. I hope you enjoy!


Saving Soles
by Mary Downer

One for one.
For every pair of Toms shoes sold, a pair is donated to a child in need.

Such a simple way to give back,” thought Beau Porche. About a year ago he followed a link on a fellow musician’s Web page and found Toms shoes. He read about the philanthropic mission of Toms and became intrigued.

Walking is the primary means of transportation in many developing nations. To get clean water, food and medical help, they often must walk for miles. Without shoes their feet suffer cuts and sores from unsafe walking conditions, and these wounds become infected. Soil transmitted parasites are the leading cause of disease. In Ethiopia, approximately 1 million people suffer from podoconiosis, a disfiguring disease caused bywalking barefoot in the acidic volcanic soil. Sadly, children in some nations can’t attend school because they have no shoes, and shoes are required as part of their uniform. If they don’t receive an education, their future is doomed.

The simple cure for all these problems is shoes. Shoes allow adults to walk distances not possible on barefoot. Shoes help children to play safely. Shoes protect from cuts and scrapes and prevent certain amputation. Shoes prevent podoconiosis.

After realizing he, too, could make a difference, Beau ordered his first pair of shoes and signed up for email updates. He received an email regarding how to become involved locally. When Beau learned about the event “A Day Without Shoes” on April 16, he approached his staff at Houma-Thibodaux Spine and Rehabilitation to see if they were interested in joining. The answer was an overwhelming “Yes.” The entire office along with people across America participated and tried to understand how difficult it is to live without shoes. The staff became intrigued by the simplicity of an idea to help others. They issued flyers to clients notifying them of the initiative, and they were receptive and took off their shoes as well.

Taking part in this experiment was eye-opening for Beau and his staff. “We live in a world where the possibility of catching swine flu has caused us to become cautious and prepare, using antibacterial wash and the readiness at which healing drugs were made available in our country,” Beau remarked with sincerity. “It’s hard to think about this disease, podoconiosis, that is 100 percent preventable by just wearing shoes. We have the cure, we can prevent this.”

Houma-Thibodaux Spine and Rehabilitation will serve as a Toms shoe distributor for the Houma area. Soon, shoes may be purchased at the office rather than on the Internet. Beau also has an interest in the project Style Your Sole where children and adults gather with the natural canvas shoes and go wild decorating.

“Toms shoes just celebrated its third birthday,” Beau says with a smile. Over 140,000 pairs have been given away to date. The goal is 300,000 by the end of 2009. I think it is possible... I think people are good and truly want to help.” PoV