Walk a Mile in Her Shoes returning to Central Florida to stand against domestic violence
Harbor House of Central Florida CEO Michelle Sperzel and Event Chair Ted Bogert join WESH 2 to preview the 13th annual event. Registration is now open for the walk through downtown Orlando on Feb. 12, 2026.
GET READY TO STEP INTO A GOOD CAUSE. HARBOR HOUSE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA IS PREPARING TO HOST THE 13TH ANNUAL WALK A MILE IN HER SHOES EVENT. THIS BRINGS TOGETHER OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS, ADVOCATES, AND SURVIVORS AS THEY TAKE A STAND AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. JOINING US NOW WITH HOW YOU CAN JOIN THIS IMPORTANT MISSION IS HARBOR HOUSE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA CEO MICHELLE, GOOD TO SEE YOU, MICHELLE. GOOD TO SEE YOU. AND WE’VE GOT THE CHAIR, TED. TED, GREAT TO HAVE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GREAT TO BE HERE. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS A BIG EVENT AND IT IS FUN. MICHELLE, WE’VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT HARBOR HOUSE HERE ON WESH TWO NEWS. AND SOME OF THE REPORTING DATES BACK YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS. TELL SOMEONE WHO MAY BE NEW TO THE AREA OR NEW TO LEARNING ABOUT HARBOR HOUSE, WHAT IT IS THAT YOU ALL DO. THIS IMPORTANT SERVICE YOU PROVIDE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO HARBOR HOUSE IS TURNING 50 THIS YEAR. SO WE HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE. WELL, FOR DECADES, RIGHT? YEAH. BUT HARBOR, THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CENTER THAT SERVES HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. SO WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY SHELTER, WE HAVE THE CRISIS HOTLINE, WE HAVE OUTREACH SERVICES WHERE WE’RE CO-LOCATED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY. WE REALLY HAVE POSITIONED OURSELVES IN A PLACE WHERE IF SOMEONE NEEDS HELP AND SUPPORT, WE’RE NOT THAT FAR AWAY. AND SO WE’RE THERE TO PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT, HELP SOMEONE GET OUT OF A DANGEROUS SITUATION BY FLEEING INTO THE EMERGENCY SHELTER, FILING AN INJUNCTION WITH THE ATTORNEY PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE. SO REALLY MEETING SURVIVORS WHERE THEIR NEEDS ARE. AND THEN ON SITE, WE HAVE OUR CHILD CARE PROGRAM. WE HAVE A KENNEL FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE FLEEING WITH THEIR PETS. IN ADDITION TO THE EMERGENCY SHELTER. YEAH. AND THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT MISSION THAT HARBOR HOUSE DOES. AND MICHELLE, YOU’VE TALKED ABOUT SORT OF SOME OF THESE STATS. I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE RIGHT NOW, BUT WHEN A RELATIONSHIP IS REALLY IN THOSE FALLING APART STAGES, THAT VIOLENCE CAN REALLY ESCALATE THERE, WHICH IS WHY THIS EMERGENCY SHELTER IS SO IMPORTANT. IT REALLY IS. EVERY YEAR WE HELP RIGHT AROUND 1000 INDIVIDUALS IN OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER, AND HALF OF THOSE ARE KIDS. AND SO WHEN SOMEONE’S COMING IN, IT’S AT THE WORST PART OF THEIR LIFE, AND WE’RE REALLY THERE TO HELP THEM START TO REBUILD IT. AND IN OUR OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE JUST DOING INTERVENTION WORK, WE’RE SERVING RIGHT AROUND 5000 INDIVIDUALS EVERY YEAR. SO NOT EVERYBODY WHO’S WORKING WITH HARBOR HOUSE COMES INTO OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER. WE DEFINITELY ARE DOING MORE THAN JUST SHELTER WORK, BUT THE NEED IS REALLY GREAT, AND THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO NEVER REPORT, WHO NEVER REACH OUT. THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT WE’RE THERE. AND THAT’S WHY HAVING OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS AND HAVING AN EVENT LIKE WALK A MILE IN OUR SHOES IS ABOUT RAISING AWARENESS. SO PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE, WE’RE HERE TO HELP, AND THE COMMUNITY IS HERE TO HELP. YEAH. GREAT INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN. SO OUR COMMUNITY KNOWS AND AS WE BRING AWARENESS HERE, WALK A MILE IN HIS SHOES. BRAND NEW LOGO BY THE WAY FOR THE 26 EVENT 2026. HERE WE GO. TED, YOU’VE BEEN BEHIND GETTING THIS TOGETHER. HOW’S IT GOING? IT’S GOING FANTASTIC. WE’RE AHEAD OF LAST YEAR FOR FUNDRAISING, FOR FUNDRAISING AND TEAMS AND PEOPLE. COME ON. I THINK WE’RE REALLY THE EVENT REALLY DOES BRING AWARENESS. AND EACH YEAR WE’RE GROWING ON IT. AND SO WALK A MILE IN HER SHOES BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER. CAN I TALK ABOUT ME? YES, ABSOLUTELY. I AM A CHILDHOOD ABUSE SURVIVOR. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE HOUSE. SO THIS CAUSES SO IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I WISH I HAD IT WHEN I WAS A CHILD. BUT ON THE FUN SIDE OF THINGS, THE 13TH ANNUAL IS FEBRUARY 12TH. WE’RE REALLY EXCITED. YOU CAN STILL REGISTER. YES, I’LL BE WEARING SOME SORT OF NEW HEEL THIS YEAR. OKAY, IT WON’T BE A PUMP BECAUSE I’M TOO OLD AND I CAN’T WALK THE COBBLESTONE STREETS IN A PUMP, BUT IT WILL BE SOME KIND OF WEDGE OR PLATFORM SHOE, SOMETHING THAT’S COMFORTABLE. BUT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY, EVEN IF YOU DON’T WANT TO WEAR HEELS, TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT. IT BRINGS AWARENESS TO THE SERVICES, THE CRITICAL SERVICES THAT MICHELLE AND HER TEAM BRING TO THE COMMUNITY. YEAH, AND IT IS CRITICAL IN THIS COMMUNITY, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SERVING 5000 OUTSIDE OF THE SHELTER AND 1000 INSIDE THAT EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR BOTH OF YOU HERE. TED, YOU TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL CONNECTION, BUT AS YOU MET SURVIVORS, AS YOU’VE BEEN PART OF THIS EVENT AND PUT IT ALL TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS IT FOR YOU THAT YOU HOPE OUR COMMUNITY REALLY GETS FROM FROM THIS EVENT? FOR ME, IT’S IT IMPACTS EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING THROUGH OR HAS EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SO YOU’VE EITHER EXPERIENCED IT AS A CHILD OR YOU HAVE A FRIEND, A NEIGHBOR OR SOMEBODY AT CHURCH. EVERYBODY’S BEEN TOUCHED BY IT. AND SO LET’S ALL GET OUT AND WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND THOSE PEOPLE, THE SURVIVORS WHO ARE STILL OUT THERE PUSHING THROUGH AND THRIVING. YEAH. AND MICHELLE, FINAL THOUGHTS HERE FOR OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT GETTING INVOLVED WITH THE MISSION OF HARBOR HOUSE. AND AN EASY WAY IS THROUGH WALK A MILE IN HER SHOES. WALK A MILE IN HER SHOES IS A FANTASTIC ENTRY POINT WE ALSO HAVE IT TAKES COURAGE, WHICH IS GOING TO BE COMING UP, AND THAT’S WHERE WE PUT FLIERS ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY. SO YOU CAN DONATE, YOU CAN VOLUNTEER, YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF OUR DIFFERENT EVENTS, AND IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE MORE PEOPLE COME OUT. WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE HERE SO PEOPLE CAN GET MORE RESOURCES, NOT JUST ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. AND THEN ALSO IT’S A GREAT EVENT TO BE ABLE TO WALK IN HONOR OF SOMEONE OR IN MEMORY OF SCENARIO IS THAT SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND NONE OF US WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. AND THIS IS AN EVENT WHERE WE’RE SAYING, HEY, THERE ARE RESOURCES HERE. THERE’S A COMMUNITY WHO WANTS TO HELP AND SUPPORT, AND WE ONLY CAN DO THAT TOGETHER. THOSE ARE PERFECT ENDING WORDS HERE, BOTH OF YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. TED MICHELLE AND CENTRAL FLORIDA. IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED AND WALK A MILE IN HER SHOES, A GREAT EVENT THAT BRINGS AWARENESS TO HARBOR HOUSE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, BUT ALSO HELPS RAISE FUNDS SO THIS CRITICA
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes returning to Central Florida to stand against domestic violence
Harbor House of Central Florida CEO Michelle Sperzel and Event Chair Ted Bogert join WESH 2 to preview the 13th annual event. Registration is now open for the walk through downtown Orlando on Feb. 12, 2026.
Updated: 9:34 AM EST Feb 6, 2026
Harbor House of Central Florida CEO Michelle Sperzel and Event Chair Ted Bogert join WESH 2 to preview the 13th annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Orlando on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. Harbor House of Central Florida will again host the community event, taking a stand against domestic violence. During the event, survivors advocates, community leaders and other participants wear high heels and walk nearly 1 mile from the Orange County Courthouse to Orlando City Hall.Registration is now open for both teams and individuals.Event details:Starting point: Orange County Courthouse west courtyard in downtown Orlando 425 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL 32801 End point: Orlando City Hall courtyard 400 S. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL 32801Registration: 5 p.m. Most Creative Shoe and other awards: 5:45 p.m. Walk starts: 6 p.m.Walk ends: 7 p.m.Click here to learn more.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Harbor House of Central Florida CEO Michelle Sperzel and Event Chair Ted Bogert join WESH 2 to preview the 13th annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Orlando on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
Harbor House of Central Florida will again host the community event, taking a stand against domestic violence.
During the event, survivors advocates, community leaders and other participants wear high heels and walk nearly 1 mile from the Orange County Courthouse to Orlando City Hall.
Registration is now open for both teams and individuals.
Event details:
Starting point: Orange County Courthouse west courtyard in downtown Orlando
425 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL 32801
End point: Orlando City Hall courtyard
400 S. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL 32801
Registration: 5 p.m.
Most Creative Shoe and other awards: 5:45 p.m.
Walk starts: 6 p.m.
Walk ends: 7 p.m.