Luke and Indiana take a moment together to enjoy the beauty of the coast.
The public is invited to join Luke Robinson and his 2 Great Pyrenees Indiana and Hudson on December 14th for their final mile from Imperial Beach Pier to the Mexican border. People can meet up with Luke, Indy, and Hudson at Imperial Beach Pier (2 Elder Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA) at 10 a.m. to walk the final mile with them!
MEMPHIS, Tennessee, December 9, 2014 – Walking since May, from the border of Canada to the border of Mexico, mostly along the Pacific Coast Highway, Luke Robinson and his dog Indiana are in the final stretch of their West Coast journey to raise awareness about canine cancer.
People can catch up with them on Saturday, December 13th, walking along Silver Strand Boulevard in Coronado. CA.
On Sunday, December 14, anyone who has ever loved a pet is invited to join them on their final mile beginning at 10 a.m., at the Imperial Beach Pier (2 Elder Ave., Imperial Beach, CA).
Luke Robinson lost his Great Pyrenees dog Malcolm to cancer in 2006. To raise awareness about canine cancer, Luke embarked on an “Austin to Boston” walk in 2008.
The success of that campaign led Luke to undertake his second walk, this time from the Canadian border in northern Washington State to the Mexican border in Southern California (nearly 2,000 miles). He has been walking the entire distance with his dog Indiana, also a Great Pyrenees, to raise awareness about and support for canine cancer research. At times during the journey, he has also been joined by his dog Hudson who made the entire first walk with him.
For the last mile, both Indy and Hudson will be there to welcome people and pets to join them. In fact, folks are encouraged to come out and walk any mile along the way, just as they have since May. On Saturday, Luke and Indiana will be walking along Silver Strand Blvd. in Coronado, CA.
The purpose is to build awareness about canine cancer, its similarities to human cancer, and the work that the Puppy Up Foundation does to find the common links between these cancers through comparative oncology research.
“I want to thank everyone who has supported me over the last seven months of walking, and I hope others consider ongoing support through a donation to the Puppy Up Foundation,” said Robinson. “When I reach the Mexican border I will have walked 1/6 the circumference of the earth for this important cause.”
Statistics indicate that 4 to 6 million dogs pass away each year due to canine cancer. This is why Robinson is passionate about raising awareness about the disease. Since its inception, the Puppy Up Foundation has funded a quarter of a million dollars in studies that search for the links between cancer in pets and people, and contributed another $100,000 in education and awareness initiatives.
“Comparative oncology has tremendous potential to give us key insights to what’s causing cancer across species,” said Ginger Morgan, Executive Director of the Puppy Up Foundation. “Comparative oncology is important and necessary if we want a world in which cancer is no longer one of the top killers of our children, our parents, and our pets. I am honored to be joining Luke on this final mile.”
After a 2,000 Mile Walk, Luke and Indiana Will Join the Gaslamp Holiday Parade
What do you do after walking 2,000 miles? How about walking one mile more? Luke and Indiana will join the front of the Holiday Parade, through the Gaslamp Quarter National Historic District in the heart of downtown San Diego. The parade begins at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 14, and provides an excellent opportunity to meet this remarkable man and dog team, and to congratulate them on their accomplishment and dedication.
Puppy Up Foundation – The Puppy Up Foundation is committed to discovering the common links between canine and human cancers and the causes of these cancers through comparative oncology research. The organization accomplishes that mission through a variety of ways including education and awareness, empowerment and mobilization, and investment in research. The field of comparative oncology is relatively new and Puppy Up continues to educate people about its tremendous potential through its global campaign of strategic partnerships, seminars, speaking engagements, social media, events, broadcasts, nation-wide PuppyUp Walks, and other activities. The Foundation’s scientific objectives include: broadening our understanding of the links between human and companion animal cancer, creating a cross-institutional collaborative platform, developing new approaches to research, and funding translational cancer studies that benefit both pets and people. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.puppyup.org.
To track Luke and Indiana’s final days on the road, please follow this link.
