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COMMUNITY
One man’s commitment to walk the pacific crest trail charitable efforts to benefit operation walk Usa
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ust last year, actress Reese Witherspoon brought to life in the movie “Wild,” the autobiographical story of Cheryl Strayed, a young woman who challenged herself to walk the Pacific Crest Trail and regain a sense of self and purpose. When Jim Harper, a resident of San Luis Obispo started having left hip pain in 1998 after years of intense exercise, little could he have known then that the musculoskeletal challenges he experienced would lead to a hip replacement in 2010 and his own Pacific Crest Trail commitment this spring and summer. On April 28th Jim began to walk the entire 2,600 miles of the trail which extends from Mexico to Canada via California, Oregon, and Washington. He will celebrate his renewed health and help raise money for Operation Walk USA, a nonprofit organization that each holiday season provides free hip and knee replacement surgeries for those who can’t afford them. He had learned about the organization after his own surgery and developed an immediate interest and commitment to it.
“The more pledges I collect, the greater the inspiration to keep going, he says. “Knowing that every mile I walk will help someone realize the possibility of a new hip or knee is a powerful incentive.” Jim “the Hip Hiker” Harper had a hip replacement in 2010 and celebrated his 60th birthday in 2013 by climbing to the top of Yosemite National Park’s Half Dome. Recognizing that millions of Americans suffer from debilitating joint deterioration, and that a large number of those individuals can’t afford insurance and must continue to live with chronic pain, Harper is determined to raise money for Operation Walk USA by generating pledges per mile for joint replacements. The money will be designated to the Patient Care Fund that the leadership of Operation Walk USA established last year. Operation Walk USA, entering its 6th year this December, has already helped nearly 600 patients regain mobility and quality of life. Arthritic disease is the most common cause of disability in the U.S., affecting approximately 46 million Americans, or more than 21 percent of the adult population. The debilitating pain of end-stage hip or knee degenerative disease often makes working, or completing even the simplest of daily tasks, excruciatingly painful or impossible. While hip and knee replacement surgeries are among the most common and successful of all orthopedic surgeries, many individuals who desperately need new joints to minimize pain and restore life quality do not receive them because of financial or other constraints. The annual Operation Walk USA program is held during the entire first week of December, allowing for greater hospital, surgeon and medical staff participation. It provides all aspects of treatment—surgery, hospitalization, and pre-and post-operative care—at no cost to participating patients who may not qualify for government health coverage, have insurance or afford surgery on their own. “There is no better gift, than helping someone regain mobility and quality of life,” said New Albany, Ohio orthopedic surgeon
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Adolph V. Lombardi, Jr., MD, president of Operation Walk USA. “Jim’s personal story, his understanding of what so many others experience and his commitment to creating a program that will benefit those in need, make him a true ambassador of our program. We hope others will be excited to champion his efforts.” Operation Walk USA began in 2010 following the tremendous success of Operation Walk, an international volunteer medical service organization that provides treatment for patients with arthritis and joint conditions in developing countries. To date, more than 6,500 patients have received new knees and hips through the international Operation Walk, and nearly 600 patients through Operation Walk USA, held in the month of December, 2010 through 2014. Since 2010, Operation Walk USA knee and hip replacement surgeries and related care are valued at more than $15.5 million. For more information or to make a donation go to http://www.hike4hips.com/