Humans and dogs put their best foot and paw forward Saturday for the first “Paws for a Cure” fundraiser at Reserve Avenue Park in Roanoke. It was a precursor to the Susan G. Komen Greater Roanoke Race for the Cure next month. “Paws” chairwoman Kim Carte says the fundraiser has been done in other areas of the country; “This is the first year Roanoke’s had the Race, first year Roanoke’s had the Paws.” She was hoping for about 75 dogs and says there were more dogs than she thought there would be. The goal was to raise between 00 and 00. Most of that money came from registration fees, while the several vendors at the event donated 25 percent of their proceeds.
Canine and human cancer survivors took an honorary lap around the field, while the rest walked one mile in support of finding a cure for breast cancer.
Rebecca Lopez and her Dachshund, Rocky, are from Daleville. Her daughter signed them up for the walk. “We have a lot of family that are cancer survivors, so it’s just a great opportunity to come out and bring the pooches.”
Carte agrees. “It’s a good time for people to get out and the weather’s beautiful and everybody has different stories. A lot of people are here because they have individual stories that have touched their life. A lot of people are here because it’s a great day and they just want to get their dog out.”
Among those with survival stories of their own is Debby Grose and Bentley the Chihuahua from Vinton. Grose had breast cancer in November. “This is one of the few things that the puppies can come to and so I like to get out and support the cause.” Her daughter, Mandy, and grand puppy Gus, were there to support her.
At 18 months old and only five pounds, Bentley provided emotional support following Grose’s surgery. “He is a cuddler.” Because her cancer was caught in the early stages, she had a partial mastectomy and didn’t have to undergo radiation or chemotherapy. “And just the healing time, I couldn’t do anything and the feeling of defeat that you have…and he was very supportive just to have to cuddle when I was laying on the couch; he was right there with me.”
Kara Campbell from Roanoke marked her upcoming one year anniversary as a breast cancer survivor by walking the first lap with her dogs, Major and Winter. She’s also on the committee for the Roanoke Race for the Cure. Her mother died from breast cancer, “so I’m going to do everything I can to give back, raise awareness, and help eradicate this disease that’s taking our sisters, mothers, daughters, grandmothers.”
Major, a Saint Bernard/Lab mix is a new addition to the family, but Winter, a Maltese, was an invaluable asset in Campbell’s recovery. “From the moment I got home from surgery, he stayed by my side.” “He literally stayed in bed with me for two weeks until I recovered.” She says Major survived parvovirus so she feels they have a bond in the fact they’re both survivors.
By Beverly Amsler [email protected]