Surrender Your Soles!

Tomorrow April 8th is TOMS One Day Without Shoes. This is the day that we spread awareness about the power a simple pair of shoes has over a child's life. Most children in developing countries grow up barefoot. This leads to many diseases, hardships, and prevents the children from attending school. Through everyday encounters with domestic poverty, we are reminded to appreciate having food and shelter. But have you ever considered how lucky and blessed we are to have shoes? Imagine a life without them; constantly being aware of the ground in front of your, suffering regular cuts and scrapes, tending to infection after each walk, and enduring not only terrain, but the heat and cold too. 

By going a day without shoes you will be helping spread awareness of the simple solution to a huge pressing problem. Wearing shoes and practicing primary hygiene can prevent both infection and disease due to unsafe roads and contaminated soil. 

Here are 5 interesting facts about our soles:

• In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to school, clean water and to seek medical help.
• Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection.
• Often, children cannot attend school barefoot.
• In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.
• Podoconiosis is 100% preventable with basic foot hygiene and wearing shoes.

Come take a walk with TOMS! GO SHOELESS TOMORROW APRIL 8th, 2010!!!