The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

45 | Thursday October 12, 2017 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insidehalton.com The scenery was spectacular as walkers trekked through Iceland while they participated in the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation Iceland Challenge to raise funds for women's shelters and violence prevention programs in Canada. | submitted photos Participants walked eight to 12 hours a day continued from p.40 The trek was also physically demanding with the group walking for eight to 12 hours each day. Multiple times per day the group would also need to cross glacial rivers, which were shallow enough to cross on foot, but flowing quickly enough that groups of people would need to link arms to prevent themselves from being swept away. The temperature of these rivers sat at around 2 C. The Oakville pair said no amount of preparation, short of climbing mountains in British Columbia, could have gotten them ready for the experience. That said, Gossling noted the cause was worth any discomfort they experienced. "I have supported the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation for about eight years now. I think it is such an important cause," she said. "It doesn't matter where you live or what your social economic background is, domestic violence is something that impacts one in three Canadians. It is something that we don't talk about. Abuse comes in all different forms and I think the more awareness there is of it the more we start to break those patterns of abuse." Sauriol-Roode said she also wanted to shine a light on domestic violence and felt participating in the Iceland Challenge was a great way for her to do that. While the journey was arduous SauriolRoode said it brought the group closer together. One image that stuck in Gossling's mind was a number of walkers helping a colleague who had twisted her ankle just 14 km from the end of walk. The woman insisted she be allowed to finish the trek. "To watch her finish was really emotional. That was pretty awesome," said Sauriol-Roode. "Someone in the group carried her backpack. The way people in our group came together to help her finish was really something." The Iceland Challenge succeeded in raising a total of $625,000 for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. Sauriol-Roode and Gossling were not the only Oakville participants with Kate Vanderburgh and Josie Racco-Attardo of Royal LePage raising more than $16,000. For more information about the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, visit www.royallepage.ca/ realestate/about-us/shelter-foundation/. Since 1967 Booking NOW for or CHriSTma maS DELiVErY! Y! 50 years Since 1967 · Thursday Nights: Domestic Pint & 1 lb of Wings $ 99 · Daily special: Large 3 items Pizza - $ 99 Dine In & Pick up only Featuring Best Montreal Smoked Sandwiches · All Day Breakfast · Champions off track betting is now at this location upholstery & design 9 www.baiers.ca High quality new upholstered & reupholstered furniture.Call us for an appointment & choose from one of abrics. our many collections of designer fabrics 9 Hours: Mon. - Fri: 7a.m.-1a.m. Sat : 8a.m.-1a.m. Sun. 11a.m.- 11p.m. Sofas · Chairs · Headboards · Throw Pillows · Patio Cushions 11-2345 Wyecroft Road, Oakville · 905.616.3156 By Appointment only