Don’t be alarmed when a mass of people begin walking down Jayhawk Blvd. Friday afternoon, they’re doing it for a good cause – and a free Hanson concert.
Hanson, the brother rock band that rose to fame in the 90s, will play a few acoustic songs on the lawn of Allen Fieldhouse as a part of their “Use Your Sole” tour.
Hanson will be in town Friday for a free concert as a part of their “Use Your Sole” tour.
The tour is partnered with TOMS shoes Take the Walk campaign which raises money for AIDS research and donates shoes to children in need.
Hanson is playing at the Beaumont in Kansas City, Mo. Friday night and decided to make a pit stop on campus to raise awareness about its causes to college students.
“It seemed like college campuses were a really appropriate place to be where people of our generation are essentially taking time to figure out what they’re going to do with their lives,” said Zac Hanson, the youngest of the brothers.
In the event of rain the walking route will begin outside Allen FieldHouse and end in the Lied Center parking lot.
Registration for event is free. This walk is expected to have about 500 participants and is an official walk on the tour but individuals can organize their own walks.
“I think people are saying to themselves, ‘I want to be a part of things that matter,’” Zac said. “We’re just inspired by the amount of people who on their own have gone out and hosted walks. Some people have five people walk and some people have 1,000.”
After Hanson plays, the brothers will participate in a short question and answer session with the crowd.
Michael Mahon, New Braunsels, Texas, junior, works with the TOMS Shoes student campus group and became involved after hearing about the shoe company, which donates one pair of shoes to those in need for each pair that is purchased.
“I think it’s just awesome that it’s one for one, so it’s not like if you buy 10 pairs of shoes, they donate one, it’s one per pair of shoes,” Mahon said. “They’re not motivated by money at all, they’re motivated by doing good for other kids who are in need.”
Bailey Perkins, Wichita junior, was also inspired by TOMS business plan and she planned to take the walk on Friday.
“I just thought that was a pretty cool idea and having a shoe affect a person’s life — it’s pretty emotional,” Perkins said.
Though she said she liked the idea behind TOMS shoes, Perkins won’t be able to own a pair until later this month when TOMS comes out with her size.
“I first heard about TOMS over a year ago and I’ve just been waiting,” Perkins said. “I plan to own more than one pair.”
— — Edited by Megan Morriss
Kansan.com