Two Battle Ground HealthCare volunteers began a nearly 500-mile hike across southern France Aug. 18 to raise funds and awareness for the nonprofit clinic.
Amy Light, 74, and Mick Light, 72, plan to hike the historic Camino de Le Puy through Oct. 20, walking about 10 miles each day while carrying ultralight backpacks.
The couple, who have been married for 37 years, have made long-distance hiking a regular part of their lives. Their previous adventures include the 480-mile Camino de Santiago in Spain, England’s 640-mile South West Coast Path and two coast-to-coast hikes totaling more than 500 miles, according to a Battle Ground HealthCare press release.
Amy Light, a retired physician, worked for 22 years in the Indian Health Service before transferring to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Portland. She has volunteered at Battle Ground HealthCare for more than six years. Mick Light, a retired archaeologist and craftsman, recently began volunteering as a handyman.
Battle Ground HealthCare provides medical, dental, behavioral health and wellness services to uninsured and underinsured adults in Southwest Washington.
“I’ve seen firsthand the incredible difference Battle Ground HealthCare makes in people’s lives,” Amy Light said in the release. “Every person deserves access to health care. If our hike can help provide more services and strengthen the clinic’s future, then every mile will be worth it.”
The couple’s “Hiking for Healthcare” campaign will include trail updates, photos and opportunities to sponsor miles or donate.
To learn more about the hike or donate, visit bit.ly/BGHChike.
