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Alexandria woman walking to Richmond for Women’s Equality Day

The Virginia Women’s Monument in Capitol Square in Richmond (via Virginia Capitol Foundation/Facebook)

Alexandria’s Gayle Converse is leading a three-week walk to Richmond next month for women’s equality.

The 133-mile “Women Going the Extra Mile” trek will start next Saturday, Aug. 5, and stop along the way at the Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library (717 Queen Street), the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial in Lorton and a number of other locations before ending at the Virginia Women’s Monument at Capitol Square in Richmond on Women’s Equality Day, Saturday, Aug. 26.

“We are walking for women’s equality — in health care, at the ballot box and everywhere else,” said Converse, the vice chair of Alexandria Celebrates Women. “We honor women and girls of today and throughout history who have broken tradition, social norms, glass ceilings and gone the extra mile.”

Converse says that anyone can participate in the expedition regardless of their political affiliation.

The Old Town resident says it takes her about two-and-a-half hours to walk eight miles per day. She intends to walk that distance every day on trails and bike paths during the day and to sleep in hotels at night.

Alexandria Celebrates Women will soon release an application on its website for anyone interested in participating. The nonprofit will be posting updates on its social media platforms, Converse said.

Image via Virginia Capitol Foundation/Facebook

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.