14 DAY TRIAL // A Kentucky man has decided to wear no shoes for a whole year in an attempt to raise money for shoeless children around the world.
Richard Hudgins' initiative is all the more impressive as he decided to go barefoot during one of the toughest Southern winters in years. His aim is to collect shoes and money and to raise awareness about the children who don't afford the luxury to buy footwear.
“For 365 days I'm going to wear no shoes to collecting new shoes and raising money to buy shoes for Children who have never had the luxury of owning a pair,” wrote Hudgins on No Shoes For A Year Facebook account.
“I thought one day without shoes was a pretty cool idea, but I wanted to go big or go home, so I decided to do a year,” he added.
The hair stylist from Louisville has gone barefoot to work, to drop his daughter off at school, to supermarket and even at the gym. His charity campaign was initiated in December, and since then he hasn't worn any shoes. He has nearly made it through the harsh Kentucky winter, with several days of snow, ice and low temperatures.
As reported by Miami Herald, Hudgins says this experience is teaching him how to cope with cold weather and people who are staring at him on the street.
“You really do build a tolerance up,” says Hudgins. “The ice isn't so bad; it's the snow, because the snow gets on the top of my feet.”
Hudgins hopes to raise $25,000 (€18,200) in donations by year's end, with the intention to personally take the money to Narok, Kenya, where children need uniforms and shoes to go to school. The shoes he collects will be donated to children in the U.S. that can't afford them.
Elijah Ombati, a missionary from Kenya who became friends with Hudgins, says that if he reaches his goal, Hudgins could buy durable shoes for more than 800 kids.