More than 500 participants from thirty-five states, male and female, have descended on New York’s Central Park for Kelly Ripa’s 1st Annual High Heel-A-Thon, a charity race to benefit the March of Dimes. The winner of the 150-yard high-heeled trek wins $25,000.

The 5-foot-3-inch Live with Regis & Kelly hostess told AP Radio that she wears high heels for one reason: “Because I’m short.”

“Women never wear heels for men. We wear heels for other women,” Kelly explains. “It’s not about you guys.”