Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Wilkes-Barre—Relay for Life began in 1985 and has grown into the American Cancer Society’s largest fundraising event. Relay for Life of Wyoming Valley will take a unique approach to the traditional formula when it holds its second Bark For Life walk for dogs and their owners on Oct. 24 at Kirby Park.
Registration for the event begins at the park at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. Bark for Life’s closing ceremony will happen at 1 p.m.
“It’s just a fun extra way to involve dog owners and dogs,” said Relay for Life of Wyoming Valley and Bark for Life Event Leader Sara Klinges. “They would come to the relay event but they usually can’t bring their dogs there. This way the dog owners can involve the dogs in helping with the fight.”
Dogs are also susceptible to cancer, and Klinges is aware of the toll that diagnosis can take on a pet’s family. She plans to honor the canines that have battled the disease with a luminaria ceremony at Bark for Life like those found at traditional Relay for Life events. Along with the ceremony, Bark for Life will feature a dog-friendly photo booth, basket raffles, a costume contest and informative displays from community groups such as the SPCA and Blue Chip Farms.
According to Klinges, this year’s Bark for Life is already set to surpass its 2014 counterpart.
“It was a lot of fun last year, but it was our first year and it was kind of put together quickly,” Klinges said. “This year we had a little more time to plan it, and so far we’ve gotten a great response. Last year we had between 20 and 25 dogs and their owners come. This year we’re already a little bit over that and we still have a couple of weeks left. We have a lot of groups and people who want to take part. It’s going be a fun day.”
Bark for Life pre-registration is $10 for the first dog and $5 for each thereafter. Registration the day of the event is $15 for the first dog and $5 for each thereafter. Shirts are available for the event and must be ordered by Oct. 11. For more information about registering or ordering shirts, contact the American Cancer Society at 570-562-9749 or email Klinges at [email protected].
