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The best experiences in life, those that deliver valuable lessons always arise from challenge

Three years ago we wrapped up our Iceland Trek for Shelter. As I reflect on this memory today, I'm reminded that the best experiences in life, those that deliver the greatest lessons, always arise from the things that are most difficult. I can't think of a single hard spot I've ever been in, and there have been many, that didn't bring great reward.


"Saturday's 25 km trek from Thorsmork to Skogar brought the Iceland Challenge for Shelter to a close for group one of three.


Over five days that tested our physical, mental and emotional limits we traversed some of the world's most spectacular landscapes that included mountains, volcanos, forest, snow, ice, sand, and rock.


We laughed. We cried. We supported one another, some sick, some injured, all completely drained as we made our way to our final destination, more hopeful than ever for a world where all women and children can be free of the fear of violence.


That, after all, is what this was all about. Though the final numbers are not yet in, at last count some $660,000 had been raised for women's shelters across Canada.


Much love to our brothers and sisters in groups two and three who are right now facing what may be one of their life's biggest challenges.


Most importantly, heartfelt thanks to all who supported us by giving to our cause. We love you and appreciate you so much. Saskatoon's YWCA Crisis Shelter and Interval House will put that money to good use providing support to women and kids who need to find their way out of a violent home."

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It's likely that women you know are affected by violence - the good news is you can help

For most of us, home is our safe place. It's a place we can go to escape the pressures of life and shelter ourselves from danger. Unfortunately, home is not a safe place for everyone. Each year, hundreds of Saskatoon women and children fall victim to domestic violence. Make no mistake, these are women that you know, because violence against women has no socioeconomic barriers. It can happen to anyone. It does happen to far too many.


There are many issues that we need to address to break this awful cycle but the first priority is to provide these women and kids with somewhere to turn. They need a safe place to stay while they rebuild their lives. They need people who understand the challenges they face. People who can help them start again and build a future that’s free of violence.

You can help them find that. You can make an immediate and profound difference in the lives of people who are suffering right now. The question is, will you?


Saskatoon’s YWCA Saskatoon Crisis Shelter and Saskatoon Interval House provide these services. Over the years, thousands of women and children have found refuge in one of these shelters.


On Friday, July 21, 2017, my wife Becky and I head for Iceland to participate in a 100 KM trek to raise funds for this great cause. 85% of the funds we raise will go to the two shelters noted above. The 15% balance will be directed towards violence prevention programs to teach young people how to deal with life's challenges without resorting to violence.


If you’d like to support us and these great shelters, you can do so by clicking the "Make a Donation" button at www.TeamFisherTrekForShelter.ca.


Many thanks to all who have contributed.


We will be without internet access while we trek next week but look forward to updating you when we return.


Norm Fisher P.S. The photo above was taken in 2015, on a similar trek that took us through the Peruvian Andes on a walk to Machu Picchu. This is our crew celebrating reaching our highest peak in a fundraiser that raised over half a million dollars for Canadian women's shelters.
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I wrote to you last week about a special fundraiser that I was scheduled to participate in on Wednesday, September 19 and I wanted to let you know of the results.


A group of sixty agents, assembled in Vancouver for our company’s national sales conference joined forces to raise funds for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation by hiking the Grouse Grind. The event was organized by my colleague Sebastian Albrecht and his wife Bess. Sebastian happens to hold the world record for the most ascents of the mountain in a single day. He climbed Grouse Grind fourteen times over sixteen hours back in 2010. Having now climbed it just once, I have some appreciation for the magnitude of Sebastian’s accomplishment. I found a single climb to be a huge challenge, one which I will never forget and one which I hope to experience again. My thanks to Sebastian and Bess for organizing the grind and for bringing this wonderful experience to my life.


I had hoped to chronicle my climb in video snips. I didn’t get too far in before I realized I just couldn’t do that without dramatically affecting my climb time. It very quickly became difficult to operate the camera without stopping for a rest, something I really didn’t want to do. I came to give the grind my best effort. Here are the before and afters in a brief video.



My time was 1:01:13. Speaking of time, it’s not too late to donate to this great cause. You can do that here if you’d like to. My friends stepped up and contributed $2,400 to the event. Collectively, our group raised over $25,000 for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. Thanks to all who contributed.


While I am appreciative of every bit of support, financial and otherwise, I am especially touched by the generosity of those in the Saskatoon real estate community (my competitors, essentially) who helped with the cause.


Thank you all.


Pauline Perpick

Pat Tymchatyn

Patti Haubrich

Daryl Miller

Brenda and Calvin Taylor

Ed Wojcichowsky

Riel Syrenne

Lana Stark

Becky Laliberté

Regan MacNamee

Kim Newransky

Kevin Goyer

Chris Dagenais

Lyndon Neher

Kelly Kowalchuk

Lionel Betker

Maria Trakadas

Jacqueline Dolynny

Jerry Andreas

Grace Tuck

David and Julie Cortens

Heather Daverne

Dave Scharf

Brian J Taylor

Kevin Cross

Caroline Bickle

Darwin Dolgopol

Don McIvor

Barry Willick

Dean Hartley

Ron Thompson

Leo Morrison

Diane Crawford

Kerry Clarke

Joseph and Charmaine Taylor

John and Norene Penner

Sharon Cybulski

Derek Watson

Cec and Richard Willick

Don Garvie

John Stickel


Thanks again to all of you. I appreciate it so much and I promise that your contributions will be put to good use.


Norm Fisher

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Good morning! I'm doing something later today that has me kind of excited and I'm hoping that it may be of interest to you. If it is, great!. If not, no worries.


Later this afternoon I, with a group of friends, will take the grueling three-kilometer trek up Grouse Mountain in beautiful Vancouver, BC to raise money for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, the largest charity of its kind, dedicated to supporting shelters for women who are suffering abuse, and violence prevention programs. They call this trail "the Grind" as it's well known for tearing legs apart. It should be fun! I feel prepared physically.


Did you know that violence against women is still a major problem, even in Canada? Every year, hundreds of women are victims of domestic violence. Some of them stay in that messy and very dangerous situation because they simply don't feel that they have a safe place to go to get away from it. Should you choose to support my effort today, every nickel of your donation will end up at a shelter that provides safe haven to women facing these challenges.


So whaddya say? If you have anything left in this year's charity budget I'd sure appreciate the consideration. If you want to give big, do it! If you want to throw ten bucks our way we'll be super proud to carry it to the top of Grouse Mountain on your behalf and put it to work changing lives.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Here's what I need you to do.


Click this link http://www.tinyurl.com/chv4j59

Click the "make a donation" link on the left side of the page

Fill out the form and click the "next" button at the bottom of the page

Confirm how you'd like your name to appear and write a really encouraging note to help me up the mountain, then click next.


I promise it doesn't take nearly as long as it might seem.


If you've already donated to my campaign, thank you so much for the support.


Thanks for your time and consideration.


Norm

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Last week, I asked you for a product donation to Royal LePage’s National Garage Sale for Shelter. Many of you came through and we ended up with piles of great stuff to resell on Saturday at the local Royal LePage office .


Thank you!



The wind presented the odd challenge and the odd bit of breakage, but the sun shone and people arrived to buy. Thanks to those who participated in that way as well.


Those of us who were working the sale had a great time meeting people who generously paid for the few items they wanted to take home. By the end of the five-hour event, we were about $3,700 in the black, not a bad haul when you’re dealing with revenue that comes in as quarters, loonies and toonies. That money will be donated to the YWCA Crisis Shelter and Interval House where it will go to work helping woman and kids who have experienced abuse at home make a fresh start in a safe place. Again, thank you so much.


Similar efforts were conducted at Royal LePage offices across the country. When we have a total tally of proceeds raised, we’ll let you know.


The Royal LePage Shelter Foundation is Canada’s largest public foundation dedicated exclusively to funding women’s shelters and violence prevention and education programs. Administrative costs of operation are underwritten by Royal LePage so 100% of proceeds raised through commission-based donations from agents, and community events like our garage sale and our fun spiel go directly to the shelters we support. Since its inception, Royal LePage agents and brokers have contributed or raised over $14 million to help end family violence for more than 30,000 women and children who take refuge in a shelter each year.


If you missed out on the sale and would like to make a financial contribution, however large or small, you can do so at the Shelter Foundation website.


Thanks again,


Norm Fisher

Royal LePage Vidorra

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I have a huge favour to ask of you and I’m really hoping you will help.
 
On May 12, Royal LePage will host a “National Garage Sale for Shelter” and our Saskatoon office is participating.  All of the proceeds raised in Saskatoon will benefit local women and kids seeking shelter at the YWCA Crisis Shelter and Interval House.
 
Often, these people are fleeing homes where they’re being abused. Yes, there’s a lot of that going on, even here in our lovely city. When these people finally gather the courage to make a break they need a place to go. The Shelter Foundation is all about ensuring that they have a safe place where they can get a fresh start.
 
We need stuff to sell. Decent stuff that people will pay for.
 
Please, do me a big favour and look around your home for a few good items that you no longer use, things that others might find useful. If you can make the time, drop them by my office at 620 Heritage Lane before May 11 between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm.  If you can’t make it by, drop me a note (my contact information is all here) and we’ll make sure your items gets picked up.
 
Then, drop in on May 12. We’ll be here from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm selling burgers and baking, and hosting one huge garage sale.
 
By the way, the proceeds of this National Garage Sale and those conducted in the past will most likely blast past the $1 million dollar mark this year. Through agent commission donations and the fundraising activities of the Royal LePage network, we have raised more than $14 million to help provide a safe haven to more than 30,000 women and children each year and to support prevention programs that stop the cycle of family violence. Tens of thousands of dollars have been raised to benefit Saskatoon shelters. It’s a darned good cause and it makes a huge difference for many, even here in our lovely city.
 
Thanks so much for your support.
 
Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Vidorra
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