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Best Friends Helping Best Friends Beat Cancer

By Tina M. Martinez

Since Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) launched the Canine Cancer Campaign more than two years ago, many dog lovers have reached out to tell us their heart-wrenching and inspiring stories of dogs affected by cancer. Many of these pet lovers have also taken action to fight the disease, including Patty Henderson, who recently hosted Colorado's 1st annual K9K Walk to Cure Canine Cancer. Henderson, co-owner of Estes Bark, reached out to MAF after a close friend lost her 8½-year-old boxer, Emily, to cancer.  

"Emily taught me so much and touched so many lives," Henderson says. "I knew I had to do something."

Emily fought cancer for two years before succumbing to the disease on June 11, 2009. Within a few weeks, Henderson had begun organizing the Estes Park K9K walk, which was held in beautiful Estes Park, Colo., at Stanley Park on the Lake Estes Trail on Saturday, September 19.

More than 200 walkers and their furry friends participated in the walk, as did more than 100 virtual walkers from around the United States. The day's activities gave pet owners the opportunity to visit with various pet-related vendors and listen to three keynote speakers: Dr. Robin Downing, MAF trustee and owner of Windsor Veterinary Clinic; Dr. Deanna Worley, a surgical oncologist from the Colorado State University's Animal Cancer Center; and Dr. Patricia Olson, president/CEO of MAF. The Estes Park Jug Band provided entertainment. Event sponsors were Eukanuba, Chuck Latham and Associates and The Downing Center for Animal Pain Management, LLC.

The event brought in more than $16,000, all of which will be used to fund research to prevent and treat canine cancer. Thank you to all who participated and made the event successful! Morris Animal Foundation looks forward to many more walks to cure canine cancer.

Watch footage of the K9K and listen to our keynote speakers.

Canine cancer kills one in four dogs. You can stop this disease. Please donate today at www.CureCanineCancer.org.

To organize a K9K Walk to Cure Canine Cancer in your area, contact Tish Czachor, canine cancer events manager, at tczachor@morrisanimalfoundation.org.