Katie Boom is feeling the onset of winter more than most. Well she would, she's not wearing shoes. In fact, she hasn't worn shoes for six months and now, she says, it feels strange to wear them.
Katie's shoeless state is a result of the time she spent in Cambodia last year. While she was moved by the people in the prisons where she implemented a music curriculum, she was particularly touched by the plight of the children she met in the slums. The kids' feet had sores all over them and gaping wounds that needed medical attention.
On her return to New Zealand, Katie pledged to go shoeless for six months during the warmer months. That time is up but she was still barefoot when Hamilton News caught up with her on a cold, foggy day last week. With her toenails colour-coordinated with her sparkly blue scarf, Katie says she now finds shoes uncomfortable.
Katie's idea behind going shoeless was to draw attention to a fundraising initiative. She is working toward raising $10,000 to sponsor Cambodian children.
"Care for Cambodia supports the poorest children in Cambodia," said Katie. A $20 donation will ensure one child has everything he or she needs to attend school for a year.
Katie aims to raise $10,000 for the charity which aims to change lives through education. To reach that target, Katie has first encouraged people to join her 'barefooter' campaign which has seen people go barefoot this month, whether it's for a day, a week or the month.
The people who signed up to the campaign have acted as ambassadors; have started conversations with people about the children's plight. And in doing so, they've collected an awful lot of shoes for a shoe sale next month. The ambassadors have not only hunted around in their wardrobes for pairs of shoes they don't wear, but they've actively collected them from all and sundry.
"We all have shoes in the back of our wardrobes we don't wear, whether they've been bad buys or whatever," said Katie. "It would be great to use our excess to bless other people."
All the funds raised from the shoe sale will go to Care for Cambodia. Shoes can be dropped off at the Gateway op shop on Liverpool St.
The shoe sale will be on Saturday, June 8 11-3pm at Agore Café in Kent St, Frankton. More at www.facebook.com/shoelessnz.