When it comes to fundraising through her running, it looks like local Realtor Natalie Nobert is money in the bank.
Nobert, who successfully completed the Boston Marathon back on April 16 — made all the more challenging by a record heat wave — also raised $3,095 for a good cause along the way, and The News was there when she presented a cheque to Anne Spilker, executive director for Haven Society Nanaimo/Parksville.
“Isn’t this fantastic, it’s really excellent,” Spilker said through a great big sincere smile.
It was Nobert’s debut in the storied marathon that numbered 22,500 strong this year.
Asked where the money will go, Spilker, who made the trip to Parksville recently to accept Nobert’s cheque, said all of the donation “will go to services in Parksville. We have a victim services program here, a bit of an outreach program, and we’re beginning to actively work at possibly establishing a transition house in Parksville.”
Formed in 1978, Haven Society has had an office here since 2007 — Nanaimo opened its first transition house for women, children, youth and families who have experienced violence, in 1980.
“When I talk to the RCMP here one of the things they tell me is that their domestic violence calls are quite high — up to 35 per cent of the calls they receive,” said Spilker.
The Parksville Haven Society office is located in back of the Family Resources Association at 198 Morrison Ave.
“We rely heavily on fundraising,” she said, pointing out the Nanaimo branch raises around $235,000 annually, “and that’s a significant amount of our budget, and we also do gap donations for our services here in Parksville.”
“It was great …the amount of generous donations I got from people that I didn’t expect,” Nobert said when asked about her inaugural run at fundraising.
“I didn’t know what to expect — it’s my first time ever doing this,” she said when asked if it was what she hoped for, adding, “my goal was to raise $5,000, but it was a last minute decision so I only had a short amount of time. It was only a matter of two months to fundraise and train… plus it’s new to me.
“I’m thinking about going back next year — I want to run a better time and raise more money,” Nobert, 49 and a mother of twin daughters said matter of factly, her competitive nature shining through.
For more information or to make a donation go to havensociety.com.
