MANITOULIN—Along with raising an incredible amount of funds for Manitoulin Family Resources (MFR), specifically for its women’s shelter and programs to end family violence, and trekking towards one of the highest volcanoes in the world, Manitoulin real estate agent Leanne Lewis learned some very valuable life lessons as well.
“Was it fun? No, but it was a great experience,” stated Ms. Lewis of taking part in the Ecuador Challenge for Shelter earlier this month. “I learned a lot of lessons on this trek; the biggest being that you should not think too far in the future. You need to focus day to day and take things step by step. If I had kept the same mindset I had on the first day when I saw the base of one of the world’s highest active volcanoes, I wouldn’t have finished the five day trek.”
“Nice and fun: I’m not sure those were the proper words to describe the venture,” said Ms. Lewis, “but it is definitely something I will never forget, and Ecuador is a beautiful country.”
In October 2022 Ms. Lewis had submitted her name on an application to be selected from Royal LePage North Heritage Realty Brokerage agents across Canada to be one of the approximately 120 to fundraise for the shelter and she was one of those selected.
Ms. Lewis had explained at the time, “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 Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) Genevra House (Sudbury),” where she 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.” The beneficiary of her efforts and fundraising was MFR.
“We will be trekking toward some of the highest volcanoes in the world (nearly 4,000 metres about sea level) over five days, crossing difficult terrain in unpredictable conditions,” she said previously. Participants slept in tents and went without indoor plumbing, electricity and cell service to raise funds for Canadian women’s shelters and programs to help end family violence.
“I was physically prepared for the trip, I had no issues physically,” said Ms. Lewis. “I managed the five days with no problem, but the mental part was grueling. When I looked at what we were attempting to do I was saying to myself, ‘I can’t do this in five days.’ But I decided that I would just take it a day at a time, and a step at a time. And everything ended up being great—I finished the trek in the five days.” She explained the highest point she climbed was Pasochoa which reaches heights of 4,200 metres above sea level (which was accomplished on day two). They reached the base of the Cotopaxi volcano on day five.
Ms. Lewis went with one of four groups of about 30 people on each walk. They would get up at 6 am, take part in their walk and be back at camp between 4:30-5 pm every day.
“We walked through open fields, with wild bulls and cattle, and a ton of wild horses. The weather conditions would go from 29°C and sunny in the daytime to thunder and lightning and hail. And in the night-time, it could go down to zero degrees.” said Ms. Lewis.
“The walk certainly tested my fear of heights to the ultimate,” said Ms. Lewis. On one part of the trek, there was a path going left that had to be about 500 metres and 10 stories high to a river, right up—a wall of rock. We only had a small path to walk through that went up and down.”
The participants walked about 100 kilometres over the five days.
Ms. Lewis said, “the most difficult thing about the whole thing is that I couldn’t sleep. Every night we would tent with another person, and I would sleep usually about one hour per night.”
“The people that ran the challenge were excellent guides,” stated Ms. Lewis. All the trekkers would get together every evening where they would hear a letter detailing someone that has suffered from domestic violence to motivate the walkers.
While Ms. Lewis had set an ultimate fundraising goal of $10,000. “My fundraising efforts right now are at $14,853 and donations can be made until the end of December. It would be great to raise at least $15,000,” she said, explaining, “the funds I raise will be staying local. MFR will be receiving the funds I have raised.”
When she arrived back home in Mindemoya after the trip, “the support I received when I got back on Saturday was crazy. There was a bunch of family and friends were on hand to greet me.”
“I was well prepared for the hike physically,” said Ms. Lewis. “I had worked with a trainer in Sudbury who helped get me ready for the trek. And I walked a lot of the local trails and will continue this.”
