For the past 27 years, the Kelowna Women’s Shelter has been providing women and children in abusive relationships with a place to find
accommodation, comfort, childcare, counseling, friendship and support on all levels.
While some funding comes from government sources, the shelter relies heavily on donations from various service clubs, fund-raising groups and businesses.
One such donor is Gloria Sloan, a REALTORwith Royal LePage Kelowna. Earlier this year, the 63-year-old Sloan decided to run her first half marathon. In preparation for the big event, she sent letters to her family, friends, clients and business associates asking for donations in support of the Kelowna Women’s Shelter.
When Sloan completed her first half marathon in June 2007, she had raised more than $5,400 for the worthy cause. Having experienced abuse while in her teens, Sloan said that she would like to see the money she raised go towards counseling children and teenagers.
“I wanted to have the awareness level stepped up,” said Sloan. “I was told that the shelter sees 15 new people go through their each day.they need to know that the shelter is there for them and the abuse is not their fault.”
Sloan was recently recognized by the Kelowna Women’s Shelter for her fund-raising efforts. She plans to complete another half marathon in Victoria this October. Her next planned fund-raising drive for the Kelowna Women’s Shelter will be in support of her first full marathon, which she plans to complete in October 2008.
