When Andrew Friedrichs rolled out of bed Thursday morning, he began his day just like any other day — barefoot.But unlike every other day, he stayed that way, treading through campus and avoiding pits of mud, shards of glass and gravel in support of “One Day Without Shoes.””I walked through the front door without shoes on. I was carrying my shoes with me,” said Friedrichs, general studies senior. “I went to class. I had lunch with friends … I’ll probably go out to eat barefoot too.”One Day Without Shoes is a nationwide effort by TOMS Shoes to raise awareness for its “One for One” movement — a movement that gives a pair of shoes to children in need for every pair of TOMS purchased.The effort, publicized largely through TOMS e-mails, Facebook and other social networking sites, had more than 45,000 confirmed attendees as of Thursday afternoon, according to its official Facebook page.Laura Doré, history freshman and the TOMS campus representative for the University, said she felt the movement was a great opportunity to raise awareness for people without shoes.”We can talk a lot about how TOMS is a great company because we give shoes to people,” Dore said. “When you don’t have a choice, you’ve never worn shoes in your life, lots of things come of it. The point of the day is really to just make it hit a little closer to home. The ground hurts.”As an independent effort, a group of participants gathered on the Parade Ground on Thursday at 2 p.m. to walk barefoot around the grounds.Rebecca Lunceford, mass communication senior, said she was participating in the walk to raise awareness of the downfalls associated not wearing shoes for extended periods of time — cuts and sores attained from walking barefoot can lead to serious infection. Particularly in Ethiopia,where about one million people are suffering from a “debilitating and disfiguring disease,” Podoconiosis caused by walking barefoot, according to the TOMS Web site. Friedrichs, who heard about the day because he’s on the TOMS e-mailing list, said the small turnout of people gave him the opportunity to spread the TOMS word.”I expected more [people to not wear shoes],” Friedrichs said. “I was kind of a fish out of water — which really was a good thing because a lot of questions were asked.”—-Contact Lindsey Meaux at [email protected]