NEWS RELEASE
MY FRIEND’S HOUSE
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In November 2023, the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation hosted the Ecuador Challenge for Shelter.
This was a five-day trek through Ecuador, hiking 100 kilometres to Cotopaxi, one of the world’s highest active volcanoes. Hikers camped along the way without many of the comforts of home.
Linda Murphy, Doug Linton and Chris Keleher were three local Realtors chosen to participate in this trip, in which each participant must raise at least $6,000 for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. Linda, Doug and Chris raised a combined total of $37,500, advocating for My Friend’s House through their social media channels and professional networks and they each exceeded the fundraising goal.
As we approach International Women’s Day, My Friend’s House wants to acknowledge Linda and her incredible ability to share our mission through her hikes. Linda raised $14,000 through the Ecuador Challenge for Shelter, and “she has been an invaluable advocate for women living free of violence, and continually shares how financial support to our organization helps women and children in our backyard, suffering from trauma due to abuse,” says Alison FitzGerald, executive director at My Friend’s House. “It’s happening here every day, and it’s supporters like Linda and her incredible network of donors who help us provide the services we do to our clients in South Georgian Bay, allowing us to create a healthier, more vibrant community.”
Linda has been a long-standing supporter of My Friend’s House, hiking 900 km on the Bruce Trail in 2022, Canada’s oldest and longest continuous footpath. Through this hike and her advocacy over social media documenting her hike, Linda raised over $60,000 or in her 45-day venture, with over $40,000 of that coming to My Friend’s House.
Prior to that, in 2019, Linda took a six-month leave of absence from her career, family, and home here in Collingwood to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, a 4,279 km mountain wilderness trail, from Mexico to Canada. At 57 years of age, she hiked mostly alone and unsupported, backpacking her way through the desert, over mountain passes, and across rushing rivers, the equivalent distance and elevation changes to ascending and descending Mt. Everest 16 times, all to raise awareness and funds for women and children who are victims of domestic violence.
Linda says she does this because she is safe, strong, and grateful for her life free from violence.
With the 2024 International Women’s Day theme being Inspire Inclusion, we know the prevalence of violence against women in our society prevents women from being fully engaged members of the communities we live in. The support of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation and champions like Linda, Chris and Doug allow organizations like My Friend’s House to create a pathway toward a life free from violence.
For inquiries or connection to specific participants, please reach out to Jodi Petitpas, senior development manager at My Friend’s House, at [email protected].
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