2012 Steps with Pets Walk

Posted on Feb 14th, 2012

REGISTRATION UNDERWAY FOR APRIL 21 STEPS WITH PETS WALK

FOR DANI’S FOUNDATION

Dani’s Foundation, in association with MiNE LLC, Infinity Park, the Glendale Raptors and the National Honor Society of Brighton High School, is pleased to announce the 2012 edition of STEPS (Stride To End Pediatric Sarcoma) WITH PETS 3K Walk which will take place beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 21 at Infinity Park in Glendale.

The STEPS WITH PETS Walk officially kicks off a year of awareness and fundraising for Dani’s Foundation, the Colorado nonprofit organization that is committed to finding the cause and the cure for pediatric sarcomas, those rare forms of cancer that are affecting and taking the lives of children and young adults. “We are hoping to host hundreds of Coloradoans along with their four-legged friends on April 21,” explains Foundation Founder and President Michele Ashby. “This is a chance for the pediatric sarcoma and canine cancer communities to join together and make a statement in the battle against these horrific childhood and canine diseases; one of which that took the life of my daughter!”

Ashby will be joined by many other sarcoma advocates in this Colorado effort to raise awareness and funding for Dani’s Foundation. In addition to those personally touched by pediatric and canine sarcomas, members of the Brighton High School National Honor Society club will be joining with Dani’s Foundation on April 21 and walking in STEPS WITH PETS. “We are committed to helping Dani’s Foundation in their efforts to raise awareness and funding for the campaign to End Pediatric Sarcoma,” explains Club Advisor Kathy Gustad. “Brighton High School is currently working to challenge other metro Denver National Honor Society clubs to join us at the April 21 STEPS WITH PETS Walk and lend their support to helping the children and young adults who need our support!”

As note above, a new element has been added to this year’s event; the inclusion of dogs. Dani’s Foundation is inviting all dog owners to attend this year’s event and bring their 4-legged friends to the STEPS WITH PETS Walk. Funding from this year’s Walk will support the Foundation’s effort to raise the funding necessary to fund future translational research projects which serve to benefit both human and canine cancer patients.

DID YOU KNOW?

Cancer treatments span the species and doctors and veterinarians are now collaborating together in comparative oncology studies.

Each year about 6 million of the 65 million pet dogs in the United States will be diagnosed with spontaneous, naturally occurring cancer.

Many of these dogs will be seen by veterinary oncologists in private practices or at teaching hospitals, using therapies similar to those used for humans, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and biotherapy.

The inclusion of this huge number of dogs suffering from cancer in the study of human cancer is the essence of comparative oncology.

Comparative oncologists are presently using naturally occurring cancers to

Understand environmental risk factors for cancer
Examine genetic / familial determinants for cancer predispositions seen in some dog breeds.
Develop and optimize novel cancer and gene imaging systems.
Evaluate novel therapeutic strategies for a variety of cancers.
Add biological relevance to genomic data generated from microarray and other molecular techniques.

If we are going to beat cancer, we need a new path to progress!

The April 21 STEPS WITH PETS Walk will begin at 8:00 a.m. with Day of Registration. The actual 3K Walk at Infinity Park in Glendale, CO will commence at 9:00 a.m. and a short Ceremony of Remembrance will take place immediately following the Walk at 10:00 a.m.

Registration to participate in the April 21 STEPS WITH PETS Walk is $25/Person. Each person registered to participate will receive a Glendale Raptor 2 for 1 coupon and refreshments. To register for the 2012 STEPS WITH PETS Walk for Dani’s Foundation, go to www.danisfoundation.org and click on the STEPS WITH PETS registration button.

For more information on the April 21 STEPS WITH PETS Walk, call 303.601.1881 or email to martha@danisfoundation.org.