Rebecca Permack, founder of Burke Mountain Homes; Royal LePage West, will be departing with a group of 90 colleagues to trek across one of the most active volcanic areas of Iceland in support of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation.
This group of enthusiastic hikers will trek nearly 100 kilometres over six days this summer, crossing difficult terrain in unpredictable weather, sleeping in tents with only two to three hours of darkness, and going without electricity and cell service to raise funds for Canadian women’s shelters and programs to help end family violence.
The Iceland Challenge for Shelter is a unique fundraising event in support of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation which encourages Royal LePage agents from across Canada to raise funds and train for a physically demanding adventure travel experience. In 2015, the Machu Picchu Challenge for Shelter saw dozens of Royal LePage agents raise more than $500,000 for the real estate company’s corporate charity.
Permack participated in the Machu Picchu Challenge, and was a top participant raising $25,000 for the foundation and her local women’s shelter. This year, she said she hopes to increase her fundraising goal with the proceeds once again benefiting Tri-City Transitions in Port Coquitlam. A portion of funds raised will also support domestic violence prevention programs across Canada, including those focused on youth, to help break the cycle of family violence.
The statistics below are shocking, and she is once again participating in the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation fundraiser to help end the cycle of violence:
- Half of all women in Canada have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16.
- 67% of Canadians personally know a woman who has been abused.
- On average, every six days a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner.
- 362,000 Canadian children are exposed to domestic violence each year.
- Shelters are critical to the safety and well-being of women and children fleeing domestic violence; the most dangerous time for a woman is when she leaves her abusive partner.
To join Permack and her team in making it easier for women and children to walk safely away from violence and gain hope for a future without abuse, please visit her online fundraising page.
