Runner's Life Launches Inaugural "Fast & Furriest" Fundraiser Run For Lakefield Animal Welfare Society; PetValu Relocates Next Door
/Multisport store Runner’s Life is hosting its first “PetValu Fast & Furriest” 5k/10k & 1k Run/Walk in support of the Lakefield Animal Welfare Society (LAWS).
Additionally, PetValu (Chemong Road location) declared their relocation next door to the recently-vacated Family Thrift Store in a joint announcement Friday morning.
(From left to right) Sandy Andrew, Pat Valu co-owner; Gemini the cat; Terry Guiel, Downtown Business Improvement Area executive director; Tucker the dog and Jane Nahrgang, LAWS adoption and shelter coordinator. Pet Valu is the main sponsor for the inaugural ‘PatValue Fast & Furriest’ run/walk. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The event runs on June 25 at 9:30 a.m. at Del Crary Park. It is the first run/walk Runner’s Life has been able to run in two years.
“We’ve missed out on staple events like the St. Patrick’s Day 5k, YMCA Run, Run for Mental Health & Butterfly run for years and couldn’t be more thrilled to have events like this back in our downtown core,” said David Dame of Runner’s Life and race director.
The run is a great way for anyone who wants to get themselves active after being weighed down from the lockdowns of Covid according to Dame.
“We're going to bring people back together which is a huge step,” he said. bring them downtown and we're going to bring health and fitness back into the community so three big steps in the right direction.”
The route is a five kilometre loop of Little Lake in Del Crary Park. Participants can do once or twice with scenic views of Del Crary Park, Beavermead Park, the new Canoe Museum and Little Lake. A kids’ There will be a kids’ one-kilometre fun run within the park in running at the same time.
The money raised goes towards LAWS since the pet population has almost doubled during the pandemic according to Dame.
Animal care is the biggest cost that the non-profit shelter has to cover according to Jane Nahrgang, LAWS adoption and shelter coordinator
"It all goes directly towards the animals," she said. "Our biggest thing is veterinarian bills, the care and the shelter."
Craig Andrew, Pet Valu co-owner pets Gemini atop a cat tower in the store. Gemini lives at Pet Valu as the store cat. Customers are allowed to interact with her and other animals within the pet shop. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
