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.