7th Annual Walk for Those Who can't March 23, 2013

Canines for Service annual fundraiser the Walk for Those Who Can’t will be held at Hugh MacRae Park in Wilmington, North Carolina on March 23, 2013 beginning with registration.  Teams and individuals can register and fundraise for the Walk For Those Who Can't online by visiting www.caninesforservice.org.  Pre-registration is preferred with a donation of $25 for the Walk or Dog Dash; children 12 and under are free.  Day of event donation is $35.  Individuals and teams are encouraged to raise money for our program.  Virtual participation is encouraged.

This year’s event adds a Dog Dash – a fun run for people and their favorite canines!  Anyone entering this un-timed run with their canine and crossing the finish line will be entered to win a special prize.  Other activities benefiting Canines for Service include:

·         A vendor scavenger hunt. Grab a blank quiz from the registration table or the doggie treat bar. Visit each vendor (over 20 in attendance) to get an answer to a question (answers posted at each table) and find out more about Canines for Service. Once you have completed all answers, put your quiz in the box for an opportunity to win one of two great prizes – Gift certificate for a Pet Portrait or a gift certificate for a doggie spa treatment.  All quizzes must be completed and turned in by the start of the walk to be eligible to win a prize. 

·         Visit the doggie treat bar and games. For $1.00, your dog can participate in 3 games and win treats:  (1) We guess your dog’s breed; (2) Sit and Shake – a treat if your dog successfully performs each command; and (3) Are you smarter than your dog (come by to find out!).  You can also buy a bag of mix and match treats including blueberry, apple carrot, and sweet potato cranberry. 

·         Have your dog’s photo taken – Visit our photographer and get your dog’s photo taken. Dress up clothes available for a really memorable photo! Donations accepted.

·         Raffle Tickets – Raffle tickets are available for sale at the doggie treat bar. All raffle tickets must be purchased by the start of the walk to be eligible for the drawing.  2 for $5.00 and 5 for $10.00 or get your tickets online at Canines for Service Walk Information.

On the day of the event, sign-in and on-site registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the approximately 2 mile walk around Hugh MacRae Park.  This is a family and dog friendly event participants are encouraged to bring their canine companions.  The event Masters of Ceremony is Sheila Brothers and of SunnyFM 104.5 and photographer Pam Harnett will be there to capture you and your pet the day of the event.   Refreshments will be available pre-Walk.

The Walk For Those Who Can’t, raises money for the Canines for Service’s programs. Funding is used to support growing programs within the organization such as the Canines for Veterans, Canines for Therapy and Canines for Literacy and the service dog program. Service dogs, valued at $40,000 each, assist people with disabilities to regain their independence with the help of the quality trained dogs that can complete over 350 tasks.  “We continue to see a growth in the need for our services.  With the national visibility of our organization, now more than ever, we need the support of our local community.”  said President and CEO Rick Hairston. “This walk is a wonderful opportunity to learn about our many programs and support our mission through a sponsorship, donation, or participation.

Support for the 2012 Walk For Those Who Can’t comes in part from CBS 10 WILM,  Sunrise Broadcasting, SunnyFM 104.5, 98.7 Carolina Coastal Rock, Z107.5, ESPN Radio, The Pet’s Pal Inn, Greater Wilmington Business Journal, WILMA, Alpha Mortgage, Atlantic Animal Hospital, Just Name It, StarNews Media, Port City Java, Fairway Advertising, Wilmington Area Hospitality Association, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, and many more.  Event, table top exhibitors and hospitality food sponsorships are available; for more information call 910-362-8181.

Canines for Service is a non-profit corporation dedicated to empowering people with disabilities to achieve greater independence. The group trains and places certified service dogs with the help of volunteer foster families and military prisoners, provides pet therapy certification classes and helps children in our community improve their reading skills. Since its inception in 1996, Canines for Service has provided over $7 million in services to our community. For more information, call 910-362-8181 or visit www.caninesforservice.org.