By Medicine Hat News on November 14, 2019.
A local woman is heading to Morocco Friday to hike through the Sahara as a fundraiser for the women’s shelter.
Sarah MacKenzie tells the News she’s raised $12,754 for the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society, 80 per cent of which will stay in the Hat while the remaining 20 goes toward national youth programs “to break the cycle of violence.”
MacKenzie says those funds will go toward improvements at the MHWSS second-stage housing facilities.
She and her husband Torrey fundraise annually for the shelter through their work with Royal LePage realtors, donating a portion of their commissions.
“Every two years, we did these great big charity challenges where we do a trek like this,” MacKenzie, who also serves as the executive director of the local Chamber of Commerce, said. “It’s the first time I’ve done this, so I’m pretty fortunate for how the community stepped up and really supported this.”
She will be in Morocco for 14 days, five of which will be spent on her 100-kilometre trek across the desert.
“I’ve done lots of long walks. I worked out with a private trainer for about eight months, where we worked on strengthening my ankles, knees and hips,” said MacKenzie of her training regimen.
“I think it’s going to be mostly a big mental challenge. It’s gong to be hot. It’s going to be long days. There are going to be times where I want to quit. I’m trekking with people I don’t know, so I’m sure I’ll feel somewhat isolated at times. The whole purpose of doing this is to push myself to new boundaries and set new limits.”