Local resident uses hiking as means to help support families dealing with drug, alcohol addiction

Michael Murtaugh has been on an amazing journey throughout his life.

From being born and raised in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to finding himself on the West Coast living life, to finding himself in jail for doing drugs, to becoming sober, to working in the hospitality industry, to his passion now, helping people go through what he went through.

At 61, he’s using his gifts in another way: Hiking to raise money for those dealing with drug and alcohol addiction.

Murtaugh is participating in his ninth “Race for Recovery” as he hikes El Capitan in Yosemite National Park on Sept. 27. He plans to make the 16.4 mile round trip in 11 hours, all while raising money for Parents of Addicted Loved Ones, a nonprofit organization that provides hope — through education and support — to parents of addicte