LIHUE — Nearly four dozen dog owners and dogs took part in Saturday’s Bark for Life event, which raised money for the American Cancer Society. The event was held at the Kauai Lagoons near the site of the former Sharkey’s
LIHUE — Nearly four dozen dog owners and dogs took part in Saturday’s Bark for Life event, which raised money for the American Cancer Society.
The event was held at the Kauai Lagoons near the site of the former Sharkey’s restaurant. It was a change of location for the event which started at Kauai Community College before moving to Kilohana Estates in previous years.
“This is the third time we’re doing this, so we didn’t get lost,” said Tammy Kakutani who participated with Dena Renti Cruz. “We just followed everything on Facebook. They also had signs up, but we knew where they were.”
The Bark for Life allowed people to walk a dog, including some available for adoption from the Kauai Humane Society, to help those coping with cancer and to fund the search for a cure. The event also celebrated the healing nature of pets and cancer survivors through a variety of contests, agility course maneuvers and music from John Planas, who in addition to providing live music, was tagged as emcee.
“We don’t really know how much was raised because we still are tallying the silent auction,” said coordinator Diann Hartman. “But it’s a good event because the weather is nice, we have a nice course to walk, including a portion along the lagoons with some shade, and we have a lot of people.”
Among those were Mary Jane and John Berger, who also participate in Relay for Life events, at which dogs are not allowed.
“We have a survivor,” Mary Jane Berger said. “Chieftan Berger is a cancer survivor, and is here as that. We are the caregivers.”
Patti Ornellas, the Kauai American Cancer Society coordinator, said the Bark for Life event follows the Relay for Life in Hanapepe.
“We just had the Kapaa Middle School field day Monday,” Ornellas said. “That event tags on to the upcoming Relay for Life Northshore which takes place at the Kauai Christian Academy, Aug. 21.”
To register for the Relay for Life, or for more information, visit www.relayforlife.orghanaleihawaii.
