Cambridge Women Hiking To Help

Karin Downs has spent three days and nights for the last 11 years hiking the White Mountains in New Hampshire for a very simple reason: It makes her happy.

So says the 61-year-old Cambridge resident who from July 15-17 has signed up to hike in the Wilderness Heals fundraiser to benefit the Elizabeth Stone House. The latter is a Roxbury-based organization that helps homeless and at-risk survivors of domestic violence, mental illness, substance abuse and other forms of trauma achieve greater safety and stability.

“My friend Sombath Somphone said, “Happiness is about understanding how connected we are and how temporary everything is. It is about sharing good times and sharing pain…it’s about giving,” wrote Downs in her appeal page on the Wildnerness Heals website. “My happiness stems from supporting the mission and work of the Elizabeth Stone House; hearing the stories of the other hikers and sharing in their pain and resilience; feeling connected to my family and friends through our shared love of the wild; and of course my gratitude to each of you who have supported me by donating to the Elizabeth Stone House or offering encouragement in other ways. Also, I hike to mitigate the impact of violence that so many of us have experienced, and I hike because I believe that wilderness truly heals – both those, like myself who hike, and those who benefit from the funds we all raise for the Elizabeth Stone House.”

The 50-plus participants in the women-only hike are required to raise $1,500 each or more. Downs’s goal is a robust $7,000. Through the years, she has raised over $50,000.

The support of individual donors and corporate sponsors has helped the non-profit expand its services and programs. Plans to expand their shelter and service capacity are coming to fruition, and soon the Stone House will quadruple the number of families they serve, Downs wrote. “Their programs are goal-oriented and outcome driven, and build resiliency for families who have experienced trauma. They are also strongly focused on strengthening the community that supports all of its members. A former ESH resident described her time at ESH poignantly. “After coming here, I went to court and my name was legally changed. I took time to mourn, and begin my healing process. I am no longer afraid of the dark…of noises in the night…and I don’t walk with my head down,” Downs wrote.

Joining Downs on the hike will be another Cambridge resident, 73-year-old Susan Maycock, who said she is hiking to raise money for a good cause and challenge herself.