MANITOULIN—Local real estate agent Leanne Lewis has been chosen for the Ecuador Challenge for Shelter.
“I am over the moon excited to finally be able to announce that this middle-aged female bas been selected for the Ecuador Challenge for Shelter,” stated Leanne Lewis of the Lewis Team-Royal LePage North Heritage Realty Brokerage. “Back in October I submitted my name to be selected from agents across Canada to be one of the approximate 120 trekkers to fundraise for the Shelter and I found out early in the new year that I was one of the lucky people selected to participate.”
Mr. Lewis explained, “prior to becoming a real estate agent, I worked for 25-plus years in various roles in the social services field. My last job prior to becoming a real estate agent was shelter manager for the YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association) Genevra House (Sudbury) where I worked for three years. I have come full circle now and am able to do something to give back to women and children who are suffering every day from domestic violence. Along with the Genevra House, the local beneficiaries will be Manitoulin Family Resources (MFR). My challenges and hardships that I will face as I prepare myself for this trek, as well as those I will face in Ecuador, are nothing compared to what these women face every day of their lives.”
“It means that I am being challenged more than I have ever been challenged in my life, both mentally and physically,” said Ms. Lewis. She applied to go on the challenge in October and was one of the Royal Lepage agents selected to go to Ecuador. “We will be trekking towards one of the highest volcanoes in the world. One of the biggest challenges is the altitude.”
In November, Ms. Lewis will be departing with a group of colleagues to trek at high altitude in Ecuador to show their support for the Royal Lepage Shelter Foundation. This group of ardent hikers, (four groups totalling 120 Royal Lepage professionals) will trek towards the base of one of the world’s highest active volcanoes (nearly 4,000 metres above sea level) over five days, crossing difficult terrain in unpredictable alpine conditions. They will sleep in tents and go without indoor plumbing, electricity and cell service to raise funds for Canadian women’s shelters and programs to help end family violence.
“The Ecuador Challenge for Shelter is the fifth edition of the hugely popular, ‘Challenge for Shelter’ trekking series in support of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. These events encourage Royal Lepage agents from across Canada to raise funds and train for a physically demanding adventure travel experience. Royal Lepage trekkers have previously hiked in Peru (2015), Iceland (2017), Morocco (2019) and the Canadian Purcell Mountains (2021), raising over
$3 million combined for the real estate company’s corporate charity,” a release explains.
Ms. Lewis has set a goal. “The minimum fundraising goal we can select is $6,000 and I’m hoping to crush this amount in fundraising with 80 percent going toward the shelters.” Funds will be used to help the Genevra and MFR. 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.
“We pay our own fees for the trip,” explained Ms. Lewis.
The release explains that half of all women in Canada have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16. Sixty-seven percent of Canadians personally know a woman who has been abused. On average, every six days a woman in Canada is killed by her current or former intimate partner and 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 and the most dangerous time for a woman is when she leaves her abusive partner.
“My biggest challenge is going to be getting in shape both mentally and physically for this trek,” said Ms. Lewis. “With my history working in victim services, I just felt this would be a great way to give back and provide support for shelters.”
Ms. Lewis said, “I’ve starting training by walking and I will be using the trails like the Cup and Saucer Trail, the Noble Trail in Gore Bay and at Willisville, but they will all be minor compared to what we will all be undertaking on this challenge (in November).”
“I’m pretty excited about all of this,” stated Ms. Lewis. “If people want to get involved in helping me fundraise toward my $6,000 goal, they can link to my fundraising page Ecuador Challenge for Shelter at myetap.org or contact me via email at leannelewis@roryallepage.ca or my cell 705-626-5723.”
