DECATUR - Asked to participate in this year's "In Her Shoes" fundraiser for the Komen Decatur Race for the Cure, Julie Curry didn't need to think about it.

The Mount Zion resident knew she wanted to honor her friend Penny Severns, who lost her battle with breast cancer 10 years ago when Severns was a state senator and Curry was a state representative.

She also knew what kind of shoes she wanted to decorate.

"I selected a pair of walking shoes because this is what she and I would have rather been wearing instead of high heels during all the time we spent walking in parades and going door to door," Curry said.

The white shoes trimmed in pink and adorned with memorabilia from Severns' political campaigns, now on display in the visitor's lobby of St. Mary's Hospital, will be among 17 pairs to be voted on and auctioned off this week to raise money for breast cancer screening, education and research.

"I had to find my creative side," said Curry, who is a lobbyist for Illinois Strategies. "I pulled together some charms for breast cancer survivors, some political buttons, bumper stickers and other things that were about Penny."

Other women decorating shoes for the contest are Carol Ahola, Helen Albert, Colleen Brinkoetter, Linda Raupp Brilley, Madelyn Cooper and Carolyn DelSignore, Debbie Damery, Ann Dawson, Cheryl Friend, Debby Olsen, Kim Robinson, Beth Stringer, Dawn Strohl, Megan Timmons, Ruth Waller, Karylle Wike and Ellen Zemke.

In charge of "In Her Shoes" are Susie Peck and Carla Brinkoetter.

"That's what happens when you win," joked Brinkoetter, president of Brinkoetter and Associates.

The red rain boots she decorated last year in honor of her sister Connie Ewing fetched about $2,200 of the $6,247 total raised.

The shoes are at various locations around Decatur after spending some time together on display at the Fox's Den.

"We don't have such a long evening planned this year," Brinkoetter said. "We hope a lot of people will come out and take a look."

Theresa Churchill can be reached at tchurchill@herald-review.com or 421-7978.