KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – More than 40 hikers participated in the second annual “Hike 4 Healing” last Saturday, braving the morning chill and the incline of the Wright Summit Trail on Mount Konocti to help raise $20,000 for Worldwide Healing Hands.
The fundraiser was deemed a success by Dr. Paula Dhanda, medical director for Worldwide Healing Hands, and the organization's board of directors.
Nearly twice as many people as last year did the Mount Konocti walk, and donations from hikers and sponsors were doubled as well.
The funds will help pay for equipment and supplies needed for upcoming Worldwide Healing Hands missions in Lake County and in areas of the world selected by the Worldwide Healing Hands Board of Directors.
The Hike 4 Healing was launched last year as a fundraiser for Worldwide Healing Hands’ missions.
Worldwide Healing Hands provides health care services to women and children in underserved areas of the world.
The group’s volunteer medical teams also provide free health screenings to homeless in Lake County. The organization has sent teams on missions to Nepal, Chad and Haiti to deliver health services, and Uganda is the next proposed location for a mission.
“We are very grateful for the support we received for this year’s Hike 4 Healing,” said Dhanda. “Many sponsors and contributors, as well as the people who showed up to hike with us, made the event a huge success. The funds raised will help us immensely.”
Doctors, nurses and staff who accompany Dhanda on the Worldwide Healing Hands missions are not paid for their time; they donate their services to the organization.
However, there are other costs incurred, mainly for much-needed supplies and medicine, according to Dhanda.
The staff and administrators at Mountain Vista Middle School (where participants were able to park), People Services Executive Director Ilene Dumont and Director of Supported Living Services Latoya Fortino (who drove People Services vans to shuttle hikers from the parking area to the trailhead), staff of the Kelseyville Fire Department, volunteer students, and Tom Nixon and numerous other docents deserve special thanks for their assistance with the event, said Dhanda.
Major sponsors for this year’s Hike 4 Healing included Diamond ($1,000 or more) contributors: RoseMarie Blackwell, Dr. Kenneth Cartwright, Dr. Dwight Chen, John Clarke, St. Helena Hospital - Clearlake, Drs. Fred and Vernetta Johnson, Dr. Marlene Quilala, and Top Speed Data Communications; Gold ($500) donors, Dr. Arthur Bikangaga, Blink Bid, Kathie Faloon, Dr. Randy and Birgit Hausted, Dina Hutton, Dr. Rodney Look, Bruce and Jan McKinney, Dr. Alan and Kathy Sampson, Roland and Nell Shaul, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Sieg and Deedrian Taylor, Gerard and Rachel Thibodeau, and Dr. Mark and Carmen Turrill; and Silver ($250) sponsors, Chernoh Excavating, Linda Colton, Drs. Keith and Elyse Donald, Dr. David and Vonnie Lounsberry, Michael Purvis and Carol Lawrence, Laura Santarelli and Ben Vanderzwaag.
Worldwide Healing Hands received many more donations of varying amounts “for which we are very thankful,” said Dhanda. “We hope many more supporters can join us for Worldwide Healing Hands’ hike next year.”
Lakeport English Inn, Cache Creek Vineyards and Disney Boat Rentals were thanked for contributing gifts that were used as prizes for participants.
For more information about Worldwide Healing Hands, call 707-279-8733 or visit the organization's Web site, www.worldwidehealinghands.org .