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www.insidehalton.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, October 12, 2017 | 40 They trekked Iceland to combat domestic violence by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff Two Oakville women climbed mountains, negotiated a volcano and even walked across a glacier in support of shelters for abused women. Genworth Canada Vice President of Business Development Kiki Sauriol-Roode and Royal LePage Realtor Fionna Gossling succeeded in raising more than $20,000 for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation by participating in a 115km trek across Iceland's Southern Highlands in late July. The five-day experience saw 86 walkers push themselves to the limit by travelling as much as 25 km per day over the remote and inhospitable terrain. "It was incredible," said Sauriol-Roode. "The country is extraordinarily beautiful. On one day, where we did 25 km, you would start in these gorgeous mountains with greens I had never seen in nature before. Then you trek for four or five kilometres and you find yourself in a field of lava dust where rocks are strewn everywhere from volcanic activity. Then you walk for a few more kilometres and you would be on this snowfield and ice glacier." Gossling said the terrain was barely comparable to anything she had seen before, stating at one point it looked like the surface of the moon. Walkers participate in the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation Iceland Challenge to raise funds for women's shelters and violence prevention programs in Canada. | submitted photo The excursion is the latest fundraising effort organized by the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. The charity, which is dedicated exclusively to funding women's shelters and violence prevention programs, has found large projects of this type to be an effective way Royal LePage agents can mobilize fundraising in their communities. "The goal really was to make it as much of a challenge as possible to hopefully encourage support and donation toward the cause," said Sauriol-Roode, who also sits on the board of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. "If it was a one-day trek through the Bruce Trail it might not have garnered the kind of excitement and interest and willingness to give." The Iceland Challenge lived up to its name. While Sauriol-Roode and Gossling said they got lucky with the weather for the most part with little rain and wind, the temperature still varied wildly depending on what they were doing. Climbing a mountain would result in a temperature dip, which would end when the party climbed down the other side. The temperature also fell to around 5 C at night, which was keenly felt by the group who slept in tents. Typically during the day the temperature rose no higher than 12 C. Gossling noted the walk was not exactly safe with nothing in place to stop participants from tumbling down the mountains they climbed. If there was any kind of serious injury the remote nature of the walk often meant only a helicopter or other walkers could evacuate the injured party. see Participants on p.45 MAINTENANCE SPECIAL! Protect your investment, save up to $60.00 on your next seasonal maintenance tune-up. Call For Details. Limited Time Offer. APPLEBY SYSTEMS 50 FIREPLACE, HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTORS 1967 Tight on Space? years 2017 OAKVILLE 905.825.1893 BURLINGTON 905.335.3203 Get 3 Months @ 50% Off!* Call And Reserve 2086 SpeerS rd., Oakville Come See Our SHOWROOM Mon - Fri. 8am ­ 5pm; Saturday 11am ­ 4pm 1- 877- 618 - 4598 *SOME RESTRICTIONS AND CONDITIONS APPLY 1333 North Service Road West, Oakville www.applebysystems.ca