03/22/2018
Thank you The Brunswick News for a great article about Bark For Life!!! Bark for Life to return to Glynn Saturday
• By LINDSEY ADKISON [email protected]
On Saturday, Brunswick’s Mary Ross Waterfront Park will go to the dogs. That’s when pups from near and far will descend on the downtown location to strut their stuff during the annual Bark for Life, an element of Relay for Life. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the park.
This year’s theme will be Passport to a Cure and participants — furry or not — can take advantage of it by dressing in costume. According to Summer Rogers, Bark for Life Committee chair, there is plenty of friendly competition in that department.
“Maggie Dutton — State Farm are usually the team to beat for the costume competition. Our theme for the event and the dog costume contest is ‘Passport for a Cure,’” she said.
The festive fun will continue with a dog walk, entertainment and canine-centric vendors. For Rogers, who has aided the organizing aspect since 2014, it’s something that no dog lover can miss.
Of course, she actually discovered the event by chance four years ago. Since then, she has become a dedicated part of organizing it, eventually serving as the chair.
“I stumbled upon the committee while trying to find more creative ways to raise funds for our Troy University-Brunswick Relay for Life team. I became the event chair about one year after that,’” she said. “I love the event because it raises funds for the American Cancer Society in a unique and creative way. Plus the dog swag bags that your registered dog gets are the best. Pet Supplies Plus is our biggest event sponsor and they do an awesome job every year with the dog swag bags.”
Vendors will also be on hand selling everything from homemade dog treats to ceramic dog paw print keepsakes. Island Animal Hospital will also sponsor a silent auction and several teams have raffles of doggie Easter baskets.
“We also have our newest competition which is a dog agility course built by our committee members using supplies donated by Home Depot. We will have adoptable dogs as well,” she said. “Team Radial is putting on a dog IQ test for their fundraiser and our sponsors.”
Humans can have a great time too. Southern Soul will have its food truck at the event and Stewarts All American Dogs, a hot dog food truck, will be serving food and donating a portion of its proceeds to the cause.
“There is even a bounce house for the kids and Sparky the fire safety mascot will be visiting. All this plus the musical stylings of D.J. Irie Barks-A-Lot should make for an amazing event,” she said.
All in all the event is a forerunner for the annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life, which will be held April 20 this year and at a new location — Golden Isles Church of God.
But Bark for Life will officially kick things off, starting to generate a buzz for the main event. Rogers notes that all of the money raised will transfer over to Relay For Life. And every penny is critical to advancing the mission of beating cancer.
“Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s community fundraising event. The funds raised from Relay events go to everything from the supporting a newly-diagnosed cancer patient to research to cure cancer,” Rogers said. “I support the American Cancer Society because it helps raise funds for people battling this horrible disease and to help cure it. Without the work that they do we wouldn’t be able to celebrate as many survivors of cancer.”
Maggie Dutton - State Farm Agent Pet Supplies Plus-Brunswick,GA Heartland Home Health & Hospice Stewarts All American DogsSouthern Soul BarbequeTroy University Brunswick Island Animal Hospital Summer Davis Rogers
