Featured Walk — Puppy Up! in Boston

Special thanks to Guest Blogger Tracey Goodwin

I first heard of Luke and the Boys’ journey shortly after they started their walk from Austin to Boston, and began following the blog to watch their progress. I was particularly interested in being part of the “welcoming committee” when they arrived here in Boston and was happy to volunteer at the Puppy Up Festival and the Gala event held here in June.

I could not have imagined the overwhelming sense of community and the strong emotions that would fill me at the festivities when Luke, Hudson and Murphy arrived in Boston. It was an experience that I will not soon forget. The “trail magic” was there in full force as people who have never met before embraced this Pack and came together for a common cause – to find a cure. Listening to Luke tell stories of where they had been and where they are going was very inspirational, and we want to be a part of fulfilling his promise to Malcolm.

I have been blessed in that I have not had a member of my canine family suffer from cancer; however, many of our friends have lost their dogs to this terrible disease.  According the National Canine Cancer Foundation, 1 in 3 dogs will get cancer, and so we will help raise awareness and fight for all those dogs until there is a cure – for the dogs of today and the dogs of the future. We will do our part to raise awareness, starting with our Boston Puppy Up! Walk.

Walking beside me will be my heart dog, Baxter. He is my personal

inspiration of love, hope, and a never give up approach to all of life’s challenges. Baxter suffers from an unknown neurological disease which developed when he was 6, and he has been in a wheelchair for the past 16 months. Despite his physical challenges he continues to greet each new day with a wagging tail, a “can do” attitude, and boundless energy that has taught me so much – I have a new appreciation for the canine spirit which motivates me to help others.

We will be walking in memory of our canine friends Little Bit Kloth, Cleo Johnson, Zak and Bean Kellogg, Beatrix Gowan and Boudreaux Banks. We will also walk in honor of my father Jerry Goodwin, who was recently diagnosed with Melanoma and to honor many others who have been lost to this disease.

I am very thankful to the Boston communities that have embraced the cause and offered their help. We have an amazing team of volunteers planning a fantastic event in Boston. Update – location has changed slightly – we will be holding the festival at Jacobson Floral – 500 Albany Street, Boston – right across the street from our original location at Urban Hound. The festival will be outdoors, and there is plenty of off street parking!

We have some incredible sponsors that have donated some unique items to our raffle and gift bags that I am sure participants are going to love.

I have met some wonderful people since joining Luke, Hudson and Murphy on their journey, and I look forward to meeting all of the participants, both human and canine, as we join together to raise awareness for a cure and remember those we have lost. Puppy Up! Boston!

Tracey Goodwin
Boston City Leader

Boston, MA Puppy Up! Walk
November 7th, 2010
The Urban Hound Hotel
129 Malden Street
Boston, MA 02118

Registration starts at 1 PM

1 mile Outdoor City Walk begins at 2 PM
Indoor Festival – 1 PM – 6 PM

Pre-register online on or before November 5, 2010 = $20.00
Day of event registration = $25.00

Participant rewards –
Receive a bandanna and a 2 Million Dogs Bracelet when you pre-register prior to the day of the event.
Raise or donate $100.00 or more (per person for teams) and receive a walk T-shirt, bandana and bracelet.
First 100 registered participants to arrive will receive a Puppy Up! Gift Bag the day of the event.
Top fundraiser will receive a special prize!

For all the details and to see a list of our terrific sponsors, please visit our Boston Walk Events Page.