Day 335 - 7.11 miles (2,142.83 total)
You might recall the story of our dog Aura and the walk that ended with her being hit and killed by a car. I also told you the story of the man who hit her and how I located him, talked to him and forgave him for his careless driving.
Now I am going to tell you how we are going to turn this tragic event into something that is going to help animals in our community. You might recall that on the day Aura was killed, I was walking with Gazelle Sports’ Bridget Meyers and we were talking about organizing a community walk and charity fundraiser to mark the end of walking two hours a day for a year.
A few days after Aura died, I decided to help organize a walk that would benefit the Humane Society of West Michigan. I approached Bridget with the idea and we contacted Nicole Cook at the Humane Society to gauge interest. She thought it was a great idea, so we began meeting to outline the details.
I am proud to announce the details of “Bark in the Park,” a community walk on April 14 at 10 a.m. in Riverside Park. Registration costs $10 and will go directly to the Humane Society of West Michigan and its efforts to help the abandoned, helpless and homeless animals of our community.
Though you are invited to bring your pet, you do not have to be a pet owner to participate. Maybe, like me, you will use the walk to remember pets that have been part of your life in the past. Or maybe you are thinking about adopting an animal to be part of your family. Regardless, I hope you can participate. You can sign up by clicking this link:
http://www.firstgiving.com/hswestmi/bark-in-the-park
If you cannot attend, but would like to donate as part of my involvement, I ask that you click the following link and make a donation to the cause. Your money will go directly to the Humane Society of West Michigan.
https://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/robkirkbride/bark-in-the-park
This walking adventure started for me almost a year ago with one goal: Wake up to the world around me. One of the things I have learned along the way is that our pets are truly part of the family. Every abandoned, helpless and homeless animal deserves our love and support.
I hope that you can join me on April 14 in Riverside Park so we can walk together.
