Heart and sole for Cambodia

CHRIS HILLOCK/Fairfax NZ

SHOELESS KATIE: Katie Boom, founder of Shoeless, has encouraged hundreds of Kiwis to get on board the first Shoeless Day and donate to children in Cambodia.

Hundreds get behind Shoeless Day

By RACHEL THOMAS

Hundreds of Kiwis will step out with bare feet on Friday for the first ever Shoeless Day.

Hamilton woman Katie Boom, founder of charity Shoeless, has organised the day to raise money for children in Cambodia who can't afford a pair of shoes.

Boom said Kiwis have been signing up from all over the country for a chance to bare their feet to save the soles of others. 

''I'm so excited to see so many people getting behind this homegrown event, and hope that my fellow Hamiltonians will join me in going barefoot for a day,'' she said.

Locally, Fairfield Intermediate School and Hamilton Christian School are doing Shoeless Day,  as well as an early childhood education centre, and a couple of small businesses, she said.

Further north, Kamo Primary School in Whangarei with its 400 pupils and nearby 300-strong Maungatapere School  will go barefoot, with all proceeds collected going to Shoeless.

''It's changing the lives of our Shoeless kids in Cambodia and it is a perfect excuse to celebrate the onset of summer by getting your feet out into the sunshine.''

Boom said Shoeless wants to raise enough money to send 1800 kids in Cambodia to school for five years.Shoeless has already raised over $10,000 for children in Cambodia.

Every $20 donated to Shoeless buys shoes, uniform, and school supplies for a Cambodian child's school year.

Cafe chain Momento will support Shoeless Day by donating a dollar per cup of coffee from some locations, while the Pembroke St Momento will match the donations collected from the  box on their counter on Friday. 

Shoeless sends 100 per cent of donations to its partner organisation, Care for Cambodia.

For more information visit shoelessday.com