Virginia Tech to hold Dog Walk Against Cancer April 10

A “Dog Walk Against Cancer” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 10 on the grounds of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.

The event is designed to raise money to support student cancer research and increase public awareness about cancer, said John Robertson, a professor in the college’s Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (DBSP) and director of the college’s Center for Comparative Oncology (CeCO). CeCO is a research center that studies cancer in animals and people.

Participants in the “Dog Walk Against Cancer” will complete individually paced one-mile laps on a course that will wind through the “VMRCVM Grove” and nearby cross-country trails. Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times, must be in good health, and must have current immunizations, Robertson said. People participating in the event are asked to bring dogs that get along well with other dogs and other people in crowded conditions.

Individuals participating in the event must acquire at least $25 in sponsorship revenue and present those funds to organizers on the day of the event. Pre-registration is required and can be accomplished electronically on CeCO’s website at www.vetmed.vt.edu/CeCO/ or by contacting center personnel at (540) 231-4643.

Participants registering for the event by April 3 will receive a commemorative T-shirt and a bandana for their dog.

Local organizations, corporations and other commercial enterprises wishing to provide more substantial support for the event are encouraged to consider a $250 “Gold” level sponsorship of the “Dog Walk Against Cancer.” Recognition opportunities associated with “Gold” level sponsorship include logos and/or mention on the event T-shirts and acknowledgment on CeCO’s 2004 Wall of Sponsors.

The event is sponsored by CeCO, the American Cancer Society, Hill’s Pet Products, and the college’s Animal Welfare Club.

Funds raised through the event will support veterinary student summer fellowships in cancer research, which are conducted in cooperation with CeCO and the American Cancer Society.

Chartered in 2002, CeCO is an academic center for basic and clinical research on cancer. The Center is based at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia and unites a variety of cancer research programs on the Virginia Tech campus. The mission of CeCO is to study the development of cancer in animals and in people, to develop new ways to diagnose cancer and to find new treatments to control and cure it.

The event is open to the public, but pre-registration is required and must be completed by April 3. For more information about registering for the event or providing corporate support, please contact Robertson at drbob@vt.edu or call (540) 231-7666.