I want to make one point perfectly clear. I do NOT have cancer, nor do I want to have
cancer. However, cancer has touched my
life… in more ways than one. For those
who know me well, or even not so well, you probably know at least one fact
about me. I am passionate about
“Finishing the Fight” against cancer. In
the spring of 2013 I found a way to combine my love of caring for pets and
their people with my passion to prevent and cure cancers in both, through the
Delphos Relay for Life mini-relay, “Bark for Life.”
The
first question I am commonly asked is “What is Bark for Life?” According to the American Cancer Society,
“Bark for Life is a fundraising event honoring the life-long contributions of
our Canine Caregivers. It presents an
opportunity for people to be empowered through their canine companion
partnerships and to contribute to cancer cures thorough the mission of the
American Cancer Society (ACS).”
More
specifically, I would define the Delphos Bark for Life as a fun, easy way to
raise money for the ACS by collecting donations from friends, family members,
co-workers, business associates and even people you do not know, to take your
dog(s) for a walk in beautiful , shady Leisure Park on a lovely, summer day in
the middle of June. And, to top it off,
you get to enjoy FREE ice cream provided by Delphos’ Creamery, FREE brats and
hotdogs grilled by cancer survivor Pam Wade, and a FREE pedicure for your dog(s) courtesy of Elida Dog Grooming…all for
an advanced registration fee of
$10.00 per dog!
Another question I am commonly
asked is “Why?” Why am I passionate about
Bark for Life and why do I rally for Relay for Life? When I first introduced the Bark for Life
concept to my staff, I asked them to ask themselves “Who among us has not been
touched by cancer?” Several of my
employees have lost parents or other relatives to cancer, and currently, one
employee has a daughter fighting for her life and another just lost a sister because
of cancer diagnoses.
More
personally, my father died of oat cell carcinoma of his lungs, my husband’s
father succumbed to lymphoma, and his maternal uncle lost a battle to
leukemia. With these loved ones in mind,
why wouldn’t I rally? Sadly, odds are
that when we are rallying, the life we all may be fighting for could be our
own, as cancer does not discriminate!
Those
who have attended the Delphos Bark for Life in the past would agree that it is
not only a walk in the park for a great cause with your canine family member,
but also a really good time in the company of other dog lovers. You will enjoy seeing people smile as dogs
congregate with tails wagging, eager for a walk and something new to stimulate
them.
So,
Delphos Bark for Life is something I AM passionate about because I have seen
its success in raising almost $18,000 in just two years. Delphos area ACS representatives have shared
with me that my Delphos Bark for Life team has been a leader for the entire
state of Ohio for funds raised and increasing awareness for this growing
fundraiser. I will be the first to sing
the praises of my Delphos Animal Hospital staff family, as they have been
phenomenal in their efforts to make Bark for Life a highly successful event for
the Delphos Relay for Life.
By
education and profession, I am a scientist.
I have learned and I believe that cancer is a mistake. It is the result of a rogue cell in our
bodies that gets away with murder. We need and must discover ways to stop or
change these rogue cells, and turn them into cancer fighters instead. Research funding is the key to turning the
“bad guy” cells in to “good guys.” Cancer studies today are highly
sophisticated and increasingly successful, but the need for them is never-ending,
as cancer knows no boundaries.
I
hope this gives you an understanding of why I am passionate about involving
dogs in ACS fundraising through Bark for Life.
Please know that dogs and people are in cancer trials together and that
canines DO benefit from cancer research as well. In addition, I have surveyed cancer survivors
as to how their pets helped them in their fight and their responses are always
the same: dogs demonstrate unconditional
love, bring joy and security, and they
do not judge. In short, just as cancer
doesn’t discriminate, dogs don’t either.
Will
we see you and your dog at Delphos Bark for Life?
By Dr. Bonnie Jones
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