Paws and Feet was originally scheduled for May 14th, 2022 at Freedom Park in Medford this year. Sutton and I were all in, as usual. And then the Medford Town Council changed their minds and denied AWA's application. After a week or so of scrambling around, AWA was able to reschedule the event for June 4th at the Voorhees Town Center. Thank you, good folks of Voorhees! Unfortunately, I will be backpacking in the Grand Canyon on June 4th. Thanks a lot, Medford. We never miss Paws and Feet!
But we still want to help!
Sutton and I still want to help the staff and animals at AWA! New Year, New Building, Same Mission: AWA's goal for this year is to raise $60,000 during Paws & Feet in support of animals who need our help. Nearly $1,000 a day is spent on medical care and supplies for the animals at AWA. So that will be our goal. We'd like to pay for one day of care at AWA. Duey lived at AWA for about a month and Sutton was there for almost 6 months before they came home with me. We want to give back to AWA for bringing these wonderful dogs into my life and for the wonderful care they received as AWA residents.
Sutton and I cannot run the 5K this year (I haven't told him yet, he'll be so disappointed), but I hope you'll accept my weeklong Grand Canyon backpacking trip as a suitable substitute. I'll be starting on the South Rim, hiking to the bottom of the canyon, and up to the North Rim-- then back again, for a total of about 48 miles. We'll do it in a leisurely week, carrying everything we'll need along the way. Less than 1% of the 6 million annual visitors to Grand Canyon National Park embark on this hike. We'll climb 5,781 feet from the bottom of the canyon to the North Rim. Then there's a 4,400 foot elevation gain climbing back out to the South Rim. I find the descents are even worse because they're so hard on my knees. I'm dedicating this hike to AWA and I've been training even harder than I usually do for the Paws and Feet 5K.
I'll be there in spirit on June 4th and the event will be noticeably quieter without my houndy running partner. We'll be back next year! Will you help us raise funds for the care of the shelter animals of Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees, NJ?
