Anne Auer will celebrate her 50th birthday in a unique and challenging way: by hiking up Mt. Whitney in California this month to raise funds for the Center for Wisdom’s Women.

Anne Auer, a board member and volunteer at The Center for Wisdom’s Women, has decided to celebrate her 50^th birthday by hiking up Mt. Whitney in California this summer. With an elevation of 14,496 ft., it is the highest summit in the contiguous United States.

Auer has dedicated her effort to honor The Center for Wisdom’s Women. Her goal is to raise one dollar for every foot of elevation she’ll hike, $14,500, which will go toward general operating expenses at the center.

She’ll be making the hike on August 9 with her son John (15), her nephew David (13), and her brother in law and guide, Phil, who has summited Whitney twice before. She is doing all of her training in Maine and is has been blogging about her experiences as she trains and prepares for the event.

“I’ll be taking my training and preparation one day at a time,” she says. “I’ve got help from experts and support from friends, family and colleagues at the CWW. My journey is self-imposed, but I imagine some elements of the challenge to make my way safely to the summit and back are like the struggles faced by some of the women we serve. I take it one day at a time and get stronger with each practice hike. I have good days and days that I struggle, but I have a plan for my progress.” For more information on how to make a donation toward Auer’s goal, contact the center at 513-3922.

The Center for Wisdom’s Women is a sacred and safe place that supports and empowers women. It functions as a collaborative of women who work to build community for the purpose of bettering and enriching their lives. Through support groups, activities and programs, women can meet and network with others, build friendships, and support each other in their daily struggles. For more information, see www.wisdomswomen.org.