Denver-based Animal Organization Triples Numbers at 2nd Annual K9 Cancer Walk

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California Dog Lovers Come Together to Help Fight Canine Cancer

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Apr 27, 2010, 05:25 ET

DENVER and SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 700 Northern California dog lovers rallied on Saturday, April 24, to raise more than $61,000 for canine cancer research. The 2nd annual K9 Cancer Walk at Elk Grove Regional Park benefited Denver-based Morris Animal Foundation's Canine Cancer Campaign, an initiative to fund research to treat, prevent and, ultimately, cure cancer in dogs.

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More than 40 teams participated in the walk, and final team counts will be posted later this week. The top team fundraiser was the Golden Retriever Meetup & Norcal Golden Rescue team, which raised nearly $6,500. Robbie Nelson, proud owner of Ricochet the Surfing Dog, was the top individual fundraiser, raising nearly $2,000.

"This is a cause that holds a special place in many dog lovers' hearts," said Tish Czachor, canine cancer events manager. "Morris Animal Foundation realized the need to fight cancer, and that is why we launched the walk program—so that we could work to give dogs longer, healthier lives."

The Foundation is grateful for the connections it has made with the Northern California community, thanks in part to the K9 Cancer Walk Committee led by Sandy Vilahu.

"I've lost three dogs to cancer and was heartbroken from a disease that I didn't know my dogs could get," said Vilahu. "I am happy to have partnered with Morris Animal Foundation because the Canine Cancer Campaign is something that I believe in, and I want to help stop this horrible disease."

This year's walk was sponsored by Eukanuba, 4GVerizon Wireless, Inc., Franklin Ranch Pet Hospital and Sacramento VCA Referral Center.

MAF's next K9 Cancer Walk will be in northern Colorado on August 21, 2010—registration opens in May. Additional walks will follow in the fall in Los Gatos, Calif., and Florida. Learn more at www.K9CancerWalk.org.

About Morris Animal Foundation