Run or Walk 26.2 Miles with Your Dog This Month!
The first-ever Wag-a-thon is a cumulative marathon that you and your dog can do anywhere, at your own pace over the month of May. The goal is to hit 26.2 miles by May 31 while raising funds for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. You can listen to my recent interview with Thomas Panek, the CEO of Guiding Eyes, who is himself blind and runs in real marathons with his guide dog, an accomplishment that had him featured last year in the New York Times.
Guiding Eyes for the Blind is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and supporting life-changing connections between people with vision loss and their specially bred, raised and trained guide dogs. Because it takes $50,000 to support a guide dog through its lifetime, and Guiding Eyes provides the dogs at no cost to the person who is blind, they have launched the first annual Wag-a-thon, a “virtual marathon in a month” fundraiser. It began on May 1st — so you’d better get running to make up for lost time (apologies for putting you at a two-week disadvantage, but at least the weather is now gorgeous on the East Coast!).
It’s an opportunity for people and dogs alike to stay active and do good. Here’s are the simple steps to participate:
- Sign up. Go to www.GuidingEyes.org/wagathon to create your fundraising page, sign up as a participant or start a team with your friends, family or coworkers.
- Make a plan. Map out your plan to rack up 26.2 miles* over the month of May.
- Rally support. Ask friends, family, and co-workers to support you with a donation — or to join the Wag-a-thon themselves!
- Get social. Post your mileage updates (don’t forget the selfies!) to social media using #wagathon and your personal Wag-a-thon page.
The Wag-a-thon is a fundraising initiative that gives everyone a chance to run for a good cause — helping to raise money to support the organization’s mission, one mile (or even less!) at a time until you reach your own personal 26.2 of them!.
—Tracie Hotchner
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