The Pregnancy Care Clinic will host its annual 2-mile Walk for the Wee Ones at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 in downtown Langley.
The walk is a fundraising event to benefit the clinic, which provides free and confidential services to expectant mothers and families including ultrasound scans, counseling, classes and pregnancy testing.
Nancy Thompson, client services director at the Langley clinic, said the walk will provide an opportunity for fundraising and community involvement.
“We want to get people involved in a way that they can have a presence in the community,” she said.
Thompson explained that the clinic’s objective is to provide expectant mothers with the tools required to handle pregnancy, birth and parenthood.
“The purpose [of the clinic] is to see individuals make life-affirming decisions for their unborn children,” said Thompson.
Earn While You Learn, one of the clinic’s popular programs, is open to both parents as a means of offering instruction in various stages of the parenting process. As parents complete the classes, said Thompson, they receive “baby bucks” which afford them the opportunity to buy new or gently used items such as children’s clothing and other necessities.
“A lot of research has shown that preparation like this really helps young people be better parents,” said Thompson.
The clinic also provides mothers with referrals to doctors and, for those who wish to pursue adoption as a post-birth option, contact information for agencies who can assist them throughout the pregnancy.
“We try to empower them through [education],” said Thompson. “We don’t let pregnant women languish for weeks and months waiting for help because she is carrying a child, she should get help right away if she is on her own.”
Walk participants may either pay a registration fee or gather pledges from friends or family members. The walk is free for those age 12 and younger; $5 for ages 13 to 17 and $20 for those 18 years of age and older. Those who raise $100 or more in pledges will have the registration fee waived.
Participants may register by calling 360-675-2096, by visiting either the Oak Harbor or Langley locations in person, or sign up the day of the event. The walk begins at the Island Church of Whidbey parking lot.
For more information visit www.supportpcc4life.org.